Britain's weather is temperamental at the best of times. But since mid last year, we have gone from one extreme to another with a regularity not normally witnessed on this Fair Isle.
Extreme snowfall, gale force winds, lashings of heavy rain and even droughts in the south have all been a problem in the past 12 months. Not to mention the unseasonably warm start to 2012, which saw plants blooming and trees blossoming just before an onslaught of sleet and snow.
The tumultuous and unpredictable meteorological forecast has had numerous effects. Water companies have instigated a widespread hosepipe ban, government agencies have issued severe weather warnings and gardeners have shied away from tending to their plots.
New research has found that a whopping six out of ten green-fingered outdoors enthusiasts have been neglecting their gardens for at least four months.
What's more, a third of the 2,000 people surveyed said they were embarrassed about the state their garden was in.
Celebrity TV presenter and gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh tried to put a positive spin on the less-than-amenable weather many parts of Britain have been contending with.
He told MSN News: "It may be inconvenient for us, but the rain that has fallen over the past few weeks is just what garden plants need to spur them into growth."
"Trees and shrubs in particular are calling on large supplies of moisture as their buds burst and the rains will help to replace the winter moisture deficit in the soil."
So, will people be reaching for their garden tools this bank holiday weekend? If they are feeling suitably guilty about the state of their patch then perhaps yes. On the other hand, if the weather turns and we get a dose of torrential rain, gardeners might spend their time tending to their houseplants instead.
