While I was out in the car earlier this week, I was listening to the radio. Lately I can only deal with music or podcasts – I have had enough news to last me a lifetime. The very young DJ was suitably light-hearted with her music choices, cheery and totally positive, exactly what I wanted to hear, there was no talk of vaccines, no mention of statistics. In between the songs we had the usual upbeat banter with the presenter focusing only on good news.

She mentioned how, like all of us, she was really, really looking forward to the summer and how, like the rest of the country she would be spending her holidays at home, in her own garden. She mentioned that, to treat herself, she was planning to add a pergola to her garden. What? I really wasn’t expecting that this young person, who in normal times and at her tender age, would spend her summer at music festivals or hopping around the Greek islands, was now dreaming of garden improvements. Until recently, most young people I know had never noticed a pergola, let alone admitted to wanting to own one. This it seems, is only the tip of the iceberg. Firepits, hot tubs, and more incredibly, saunas, are flying off the (figurative) shelves into our Irish gardens. People have saved money by staying at home: no more shopping trips to London and Paris, no more eating out, has resulted in a large chunk of savings going into their gardens.

However, given the pent-up demand from last year and after three lockdowns when garden designers couldn’t get on with existing jobs or start new projects, your chances of finding someone to build a sunken garden with outdoor fire or covered seating area is very slim indeed.

So we need to think about ways we can, on our own, create outdoor areas where we can sit, eat and enjoy the fruits of our garden labours. To ensure delivery in time for a May heatwave, you need to order garden furniture soon. The choices are vast, with a lot depending on your budget. When it comes to the dining table, look for sturdy and steady, but light enough to lift – this year’s trend for rattan and light metals feeds into this idea – which allows you easily move around the garden following the changing light. Dining chairs have to be comfortable, ideally with arms to rest on. Table and chairs do not need to match and having a few extra folding chairs is essential for accommodating unexpected guests, should they be allowed! Whatever you need, you will find more choice than ever in garden centres and furniture suppliers, while most interior designers are also responding to the demand from clients for outdoor furniture. Some garden furniture does need to be assembled, so while buying online is an option, it does involve a certain amount of work. Unless you are already familiar with the brand, I recommend buying from a local stockist who knows the full range. They might arrange for it to be assembled and take away the packaging.

Bondholmen outdoor dining set at IKEA

With the weather now much improved there is no excuse not get out gardening this week. You will have noticed that your local shop and supermarket now have seed stands as you enter the shop or near the tills. These simple packets of joy are there to tempt you, however unlike many other temptations there really is no downside. If you have never grown anything from seed, give it a go, you will be amazed just how satisfying it is to watch seeds germinate and develop. Last week I picked up orange nasturtiums along with basil and parsley seed – you can never have enough fresh herbs. The basil was sown indoors, kept moist and placed on a very sunny windowsill where it germinated in just over a week. I sowed the parsley in a large pot outdoors and as parsley is slow to germinate I will have to wait three-four weeks before I can expect to see any sign of growth. But for now, by simply brushing my hands over the tiny seedlings of basil, the resulting unmistakable aroma conjures up summer days and a caprese salad.

Here are a few ideas to get you thinking …