The change of the seasons is still a novelty for me. In New Zealand, spring and autumn really blend into summer, especially as my hometown Auckland is sub-tropical, requiring a meagre two-bar heater over winter. The seasonal changes here in the Wirral are so noticeable - all the trees lining the road are vivid green and the blossom on the cherry and apple trees, plus the email I've received from a local farm shop - Asparagus season has begun!

The climate in Cheshire, Wirral and Formby is perfect for the crop, so if you're keen to buy locally now is the time. I won't be, I've never liked asparagus, but I am pleased that another seasonal vegetable is in the shops, Jersey Royal potatoes, so precious you should keep them refrigerated, are now at their best. The earlier versions around since February are from greenhouses, May's are the first outdoor crop and have real flavour, perfect boiled then tossed with a little butter, salt, pepper and chopped mint.

Speaking of seasons, much of the good TV is coming to an end, so I thought I'd do a round up of what dramas are worth catching on repeat or buying on DVD...

Californication The character development is above your average hollydrama; David Duchovny is Hank the one-hit wonder who's had writer's block since his partner, Karen (Natasha McElhone) has moved out with their daughter, leaving him for a boring LA media mogul. Hank's adventures in LA also stars his agent Charlie Runkle, (Sex and the City's Evan Handler) and Karen's step-daughter Mia (Madeline Zima), who's grown up since starring in the Nanny with Fran Drescher! Expect sex, great dialogue and the best will they/won't they romance on TV for years. Duchovny won Best Actor at the 2008 Golden Globes and the series was nominated, but lost out to Extras.

Dirty Sexy Money How could a show with Six Feet Under's Peter Krause and Donald Sutherland ever fail, really? The Darling family's rich shenanigans mixed with adultery, business and possibly murder make for great light-hearted drama.

Damages Glenn Close and Ted Danson are dangerous; one manipulative lawyer (Patty Hewes), one corporate thief (Arthur Frobisher), a young lawyer becomes involved in trying the class action suit against Frobisher for charismatic and scheming Patty. No mercy makes for a great storyline, it's like 13 mini thriller movies. Glenn Close won Best Actress in a Television series at the 2008 Golden Globes for Damages.

Mad Men Drinking, smoking and dressing for work have never looked as stylish as at Stirling Cooper, an advertising firm on New York City's Madison Avenue in 1960. Mad Men follows Don Draper (Jon Hamm) managing his mistresses, family life and ambitious colleagues and also Peggy (West Wing's Elisabeth Moss) as a new secretary. Series creator Matthew Weiner worked on the Sopranos and the show won Best TV Drama and Best Actor in a Drama series for Hamm at the 2008 Golden Globes.