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Theresa Talbot is the presenter of Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio Scotland's gardening phone-in, The Beechgrove Potting Shed. She's sent us this blog to introduce herself...

The best thing about being part of the team at The Beechgrove Potting Shed is having the chance each week to speak to people who are truly passionate about all things green. And I don't just mean the experts on the panel; chatting to listeners who call in to share their problems, ask for advice or in some cases call to solve a problem that's stumped the panel the previous week, is an absolute treat. One of my favourite calls still has to be from the lovely lady who wanted to know what kind of house-plants would survive her mad moggie who was determined to rip every piece of greenery to shreds. We're still waiting for the definitive answer on that one. And the expert advice? Cats and plants don't mix!

There's always something new to learn; Donald McBean the elder statesman of The Shed happily admits to being a very old man but a very young gardener! (I'd like to add that he's not old at all, he's an absolute darling of a man who's in his prime and always brings me in the most delicious Danish biscuits!). Like all the experts on the team he loves to impart his vast knowledge but knows there's always something fresh to learn, and loves to hear about plants, cultivars and techniques which are new to him and he soaks up this new information like a sponge.

The more time I spend with Jim McColl, Carole Baxter and Ian Young to name but a few of our regular panellists, the more I realise what huge gaps I have in my own horticultural knowledge. But gaps are there to be filled - and not just by Donald's lovely biscuits!
As the days get shorter, like many gardeners, I'm actually quite looking forward to winter. It's a chance to take stock of the garden and the cold days and dark nights give me the perfect chance to snuggle up with next year's seed catalogue preparing my fantasy garden in my head! I say 'fantasy' because despite the best of intentions, the perfect herbaceous border billowing with colour and the neatly tended vegetable plot jam-packed with glorious goodies somehow don't always come to fruition. In my defence, it's not always my fault. My latest attempt to add a bit of 'character' to some new steps in the garden was sabotaged! I'd read somewhere that spreading yoghurt on new stonework would attract moss and thus stop it sticking out like a sore thumb. Armed with a bumper pot of yoghurt and a paint brush I set about covering every available surface. It was a warm day and my toil soon attracted the attention of passers-by, clearly impressed with my handiwork. As I carried on I couldn't help but notice sniggers and laughter. Only when I finished the entire length of the garden did I glance round to see my fat cat Chelsea hot on my heels, licking off every last drop of yoghurt from the stone!!! Perhaps the experts are right, gardening and cats don't mix!

Listen to The Beechgrove Potting Shed every Sunday at 1205, or catch-up via the Ö÷²¥´óÐã iPlayer.