In a nutshell... its my wife's 40th birthday in a few months. For
her birthday present/party she has asked me to organise all her/our
friends to descend on our garden (we have a 1/4 acre plot in total!)
and basically "do" it... clear, weed, clean, dig, prepare, build etc
etc etc... a sort of "groundforce" but w/out Alan, Tommy or Charlie
(we got those names available already in our friends!).

Some friends from the US can't make it (understandably!) but have
offered to send some seeds for any typically US plants that she may
like. I have checked the C&E website, and the DEFRA website, and it
appears up to 5 packets commercial seeds in packets can be sent in
from abroad OK. (How many times can you send 5 packets I wonder!!!
:-)

Well, we haven't got a blinking clue really ... hence seeking some
advice...

The garden is in central Wiltshire, and the soil is quite clay like...
its heavy in the winter, and bakes in the summer. Its not light!
The garden is also quite open so there is on the whole plenty of light
in summer, but is quite ... exposed ... in parts potentially. We have
a small section we call the "orchard" (about 15 metres square!) which
has two mature apple trees, a damson planted 3 years ago, a cherry
planted 2 years ago (self pollinating) and a walnut planted a month
ago (my 40th birthday present from some friends).

Any suggestions for something "American" that would be fun but not
"funeral flower" like (she hates chrysanths for instance!)?

Similarly we have friends in Hong Kong that could possibly send
something also....

Thanks for any help and advice,

Ian