It’s that time again, as it gets colder (and darker) outside the gardener is forced to spend more time indoors and to fight off boredom the seed catalogues are delivered so we can dream about exciting plants next year.

A few links for you to order your seeds for 2009:

Thompson and Morgan

Seeds of Italy (Franchi Seeds)

Kings Seeds (particularly known for vegetable seeds but also sell flower seed)

Chiltern Seeds

Suttons

Unwins

During January there are many Potato Days that you can buy seed potatoes from that also have seed suppliers attending or where you can join in a ’seed swap’ to exchange your excess or unwanted seeds for something else. The nearest one to me is held in Whitchurch, more details here.

I redesigned my front garden back at the start of 2008 and removed almost all the old shrubs and replaced them with a prairie inspired scheme of grasses, perennials and box plants. The garden did look a bit bare when I first planted it up but I was convinced it wouldn’t take long to see the plants begin to grow and fill out.

Here is my first update photo that shows how not everything you plant does what you expect:

The Salvia patens that I used at the front should clearly have gone further back but it has been flowering since late July and proved to be much tougher and longer-lasteing than I expected. The Stipa tenuissima grasses are a delight and sway about in even light breezes, they look really nice next to the pink Echinacea (of which I should clearly have bought a few more!)

There may be a few gaps in winter as the Epimediums have not grown very quickly, I suspect that something may be eating them and I must treat them for Vine Weevils.

It has looked really good all summer long and now I shall take stock, buy a few extra plants and have a tidy up before winter to make sure that it looks even better in 2009.

I can make a planting plan for you too, call me on 07956 906053. I qualified with a Foundation Degree in Garden Design from Sparsholt college in 2007.