Garden inspiration

[motmot]

I know absolutely nothing about gardening (and have never ventured into this verdant corner of mumsnet before) and would like to learn.
I live in a rural cottage with a neglected plot. It's very windy and cold in the winter (usually lots of snow) and at a slight altitude.

Things that grow happily are thistles, cherry laurel and honeysuckle. There's a big patch of wild sweet peas that pop up every year too.

We've planted a beech hedge and lots of native trees but it's the beds that are getting to me. I'd like some flowers!

Any recommendations for books, Instagram accounts, etc that can inspire me and help transform my nettle and children's toy-strewn wasteland?

[BartiDdu]

For garden design ideas, I can recommend Matt James' "How to plant a garden". It is not specifically aimed at the situation you're describing, but it explains the basics of garden design and has lots of useful ideas, including examples of planting schemes.

If you're looking for plants that are able to cope in more extreme weather conditions, you may find the RHS plant finder useful. Here's their list of plants suitable for exposed sites:
www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Search-Results?form-mode=true&context=l%3Den%26q%3D%2523all%26sl%3DplantForm%26r%3Df%252Fplant_exposure%252Fexposed . You can refine this further based on soil type, light levels etc.

Good luck!

[motmot]

Thank you!

[ErrolTheDragon]

If you want a book, I found What Plant Where useful.

[motmot]

Thanks Errol

[Ohyesiam]

Geoff Hamilton's A Year in Your Garden was how I started. Probably 99 p on Amazon.

[yamadori]

Have a look into nearby gardens - what grows well locally will probably do well in your garden too.