MY mum used to say the best thing my dad ever said to her was on December 22 each year.

Every morning of that day he would say: "There's a couple of minutes more sunshine than yesterday."

As we move into January, the light levels change very little. The difference to us humans is purely psychological but the changes are far more pronounced for plants and particularly birds.

I've kept a good garden diary now for more than 14 years - something I recommend to all gardeners - as it's the best way of learning from your successes and failures.

I record practical day-to-day tasks, the weather and inevitably the sights and sounds of the day.

Usually, towards the end of January I have written that the solitary sound of the robin has been drowned out by the song of the thrush and blackbird. And for me as a gardener, it is my wake-up call that winter is slipping into spring.

As a professional gardener, I have come to love winter as much as summer, as the anticipation and excitement of late winter flowers and emerging buds are a continual reminder that nature is never really dormant.

The view of a well mulched, trimmed herbaceous border at the end of January will tell this, as the coloured buds push their way through the rich brown layering.

On the warm days of January, the heady fragrance of winter sweet matonia and witch hazel fills the air with a purity and clarity that summer smells can hardly rival.

All autumn's work of bulb planting will be showing results as the green bullets stab their way through the soil, heralding the promise of vibrant colour from February onwards.

You may even be enjoying the beautiful winter aconite or snowdrops by January's end, nodding their heads through snow and frost, planted under a well chosen tree or shrub, setting off the beautiful bark or shape.

As the sun gathers strength at this time of year, the stronger light will illuminate the coloured bark of birch, maples and stands of dogwood in its many shades.

The intensity of colour increasing as the sap starts to rise, further adding to the vibrancy of the colour.

A garden has to earn its keep. If it is to reward the investment of time and money lavished upon it then, in my books, it should be entertaining you with horticulture all year round.

If it isn't, then do something about it. Firstly get inspired.

Go and visit a good garden - Tatton springs to mind but there are plenty more offering good winter inspiration.

Secondly, read and research.

Buy or borrow some good books on the subject. A good starter is Right Plant, Right Place. Don't be wowed by fancy coffee table design books - good, well photographed plant directories are better, as are nursery catalogues and the web.

Thirdly, go out and garden at every opportunity. One morning's gardening in winter is two less in summer.

Happy winter.