A raised bed could help. Perhaps a brick edging. And a load of compost.

It might sound odd - but check out which weed species are growing in the bed-to-be. They'll indicate fairly well just what sort of soil and conditions you're facing.

Possibles for planting: wallflowers, epimediums, bulbs - snowdrops, daffodils and jonquils, perennial asters, erigeron, ferns, labrador violets, Alyssum saxatile (or whatever it currently is), corydalis, cyclamen.

Because the roots aren't likely to be too far down you may need to think of adding compost annually and doing very little digging once you have the weeds under control. With that in mind such treats as Vinca minor are probably better left where their rambling ways can be curtailed.

If the tree is in need of disguise - a clematis or so, or a sedate honeysuckle or rose may be just what you'd like, too.

Any spring bulb is good and autumn bulbs will also probably do well. Having flowers, or even green, in the middle of summer will be difficult. This year is dry, but probably not the driest yout garden will ever experience. Think about crocosmia, sedum, cistus, etc, in the sunny areas it should be quite easy to find arid loving plants. In the dry shady areas, it will be difficult to have anything grow right through the summer. Vinca minor will, geranium macrorrhizum, ajuga if it isn't too dry, lamb's ears if it isn't too dark, euonymus fortunei. How about a bench where you can sit in the shade, and a few potted impatiens?

If the tree is past its best, maybe cut it down and start again :)

The birds had them all -I imagine it was the birds. I walked past it the other day and they were all gone.

Every one.

What got me was flowering cherries almost never fruit. Or did the ones I grew up with need fertilising with the male of the species?

I don't know what to suggest with the garden idea. I am sure the pruned tree will recover.

It wouldn't hurt to give it a top dressing of bone meal or some such. Soil under a tree does get tired. And of course it is bound to get dry. Think what the leaf acreage is likely to be. And just that narrow conduit to get what the heavens send up there to it.

Don't cover the base of the trunk whatever you do.

Another very similar tree produces fewer flowers and fewer cherries and has a more upright growth. It also suckers like mad and is due for the chop once its replacement grows a little more.

Lastly, the regulation Kwanzan cherry (Prunus serrulata cultivar) which was planted by the house builders in the centre of each front garden. It has profuse double pink flowers but never cherries, although the original species does produce dark coloured cherries. Not an attractive tree exceppt for the two weeks of flowers.