Summer is here again at last! It is time to head outside to enjoy the warm days and long evenings, perhaps even taking a refreshing dip in cool water. But what is going on in nature at this time of year? Plants are growing and flowers are blooming, but there are often dry spells to worry about on the horizon.

It is no secret that supermarket prices have been rising for some time now. And it is not just the cost of vegetable oil that is cause for concern. Fruit and vegetable prices have been steadily rising since 2015, with fruit becoming 19 percent more expensive over the past seven years and vegetable prices going up by 33 percent in the same time frame.¹ The past few months have seen prices jump up at an alarming rate, with rising energy prices and higher costs for wages and fertilisers mainly to blame. But it is possible to become less dependent on the supermarkets.

Digitalisation and connectivity are on the rise – and fast. Around 51 million households in Europe were smart in 2021. Estimates suggest that figure is set to almost double to 97.2 million by 2025.¹ Gardens are not being left out and are evolving with homes.