Ready, steady, grow! The soil is warming up and the poppy seedlings are jostling for pole position. As spring gathers pace, Dan Pearson gets in gear for the growing season Ask Dan

Night vision In pictures: A peek at some famous bedside tables, from Isabel Allende to Princess Michael of Kent Full article

Snooping around In pictures: Three rural idylls, and one bucolic retreat in need of work A bit on the side Renovated period homes

The guide to growing your own Join millions of home owners with part two of our guide. Our gardening gurus will show you how to make the most of your patch, big or small Growing your own, part one Dig for victory More Guardian guides

Space solves Can't shift a radiator valve? Worrying about water? Space solves all your problems Space solves

Cause for alarm
Anna Pickard gets a rude wake-up call from the most ingenious alarm clocks on the market
In pictures: Ingenious alarm clocks

Fit for a Bond baddy
How do you make a small space feel bigger and brighter? Charlotte Packer gets some tips

Ask Oliver
I need a sofa to replace my boring old Ikea one. Can you suggest anything new?
Cutlery and cleaning rugs

Confessions of a collector
Is there a collecting gene? Does it run in families, through inheritance or environment?
LS Lowry's paintings
Lottery tickets

The Guardian guide to DIY
Learn to love DIY: it's fashionable, it will save you money and it can make your home greener
More on DIY

Six of the best: Wall clocks In pictures: Tantalising time-pieces, as chosen by Stephanie Powell

Don't shop for it ...
In pictures: Celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Argos catalogue

After you'd gone Christopher Lloyd's long border at Great Dixter was his masterpiece. Head gardener Fergus Garrett on the challenge of working alone

Rainbow warriors
Get ready with those sunglasses ... James Alexander-Sinclair has come up with some colourful planting ideas to set your borders sizzling this summer

Stumped?
Lia Leendertz answer your gardening queries
Last week

Plant hunter
If you're searching for a particular plant for that tricky spot in the garden, stay put, says Zia Allaway

Taking basal cuttings
Carol Klein: Gardeners are generous-hearted, happy to share their precious plants
Leaders of the pack
The big spring divide

Love at first sight
The impossibly thin stems, the delicate flowers, the beautifully shaped coppery foliage ... Dan Pearson recalls the first time he saw an epimedium
Ask Dan

Clippings
Judicious pruning | Gone to potash | Plant of the week
Last week

Sage words
Thanks to herb expert Jekka McVicar, Jamie Oliver's new garden tastes as good as it looks