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

My wife likes daiseys and there are many different kinds and different
colors.

Iris are very pretty, but are an early bloomer, and will bloom the second
year after planting. Again, many different colors.

Another favorite is the Giant Sunflower. The smaller versions grow wild
around here, but they are very pretty also. Again, there are several colors
and sizes available. The problem with them is that they may not be blooming
when you need them (end of July or August).

To eliminate the clay soil problem, and I cant tell if you are asking about
the clay soil, or just making a statement, but I build a raised bed using
wood or cement brick sides. I fill with a good 1/2 dirt, 1/4 compost, and
1/4 sand mixture. Then I plant the plants or seeds. It seems to work very
well, and if made deep enough, the roots wont all have to stand in water.

Good luck. Dwayne


"terry watts" wrote in message
om...
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