On 16/7/06 15:11, in article
, "EagleEyes"
wrote:

No, it is in the north is not hot and dry. lowest temperatures in
winter temperatures are on average 3C and in summer the highest is now
with an average of 30. Rest of the year 12-20. Water is not a problem.
The backyard at the moment has beans, strawberries (finish one month
ago), onions, garlic, peas, cabages, letuce and tomatoes. I liked the
Bougainvillea option, will try to get some...

Next spring I already have a huge amount of stuff to plant, just wanted
to see some color before then!

Have a look at Salvias, too. There's a big range of colour, flowering times
etc. For example, Salvia confertiflora isn't flowering yet with us and is a
lovely rusty red while Salvia involucrata is starting to flower well and is
a bright zinging pink. Other things good for your climate and flowering now
or soon are the climbers Campsis radicans and Ecremocarpus scaber, plus
Mandevilla, Pandorea and Jasmine. You might like to look at the Abbey
Gardens on Tresco site for some inspiration!
http://www.tresco.co.uk/the_abbey_garden/plants.asp
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(email address on website)