Annuals
Annuals are ideal for quick colour in your first year in a new garden, and you can replace them with permanent plants when you’ve clarified your planting ideas. In damp situations, Nemophila menziesii is a good choice, its white-eyed, blue flowers smothering the short and spreading plants. In drier places, California poppies, eschscholzia, in a wide range of pastel and fiery shades are ideal. Both are about 23cm (9in). Taller choices include cosmos, one of the most economical of annuals in terms of seed cost per square metre of flowers, look for ‘Sonata’, 60cm (2ft). Calendulas are also ideal, ‘Playtime Mix’, 60cm (2ft), has the most beautiful range of colours. Also try: Marigold ‘Tall Scotch Prize’. Tall and long-flowering plants have chestnut and yellowstriped flowers.
75cm (2½ft).