Kate, the weather here is the likely reason so few nurseries sell this type of bulb or corm. I've spent several years collecting everything desirable, it can be fun but in the end the weather beats you unless you have plenty of suitable places to keep such plants in pots, and if you can afford the heating to keep them happy! Then of course there is all the extra work, it's difficult enough tidying up the garden in the short spells of good weather we get.
I have a large garden, and I'm lucky to have bought before the big boom in prices. I developed the garden into several beds, now it has evolved with those plants which are happy in sandy acidic soil and which are very hardy. I have plants which set themselves about such as hardy Geraniums, Veronica, Linaria purpurea and believe it or not, single dahlias I grew from seed which not only survive but set about and thrive. Flowering shrubs along with good ground cover plants are what I am now happy with, the exotic plants of past have had to take a back seat.
If you manage to get your dream home Kate, my advice is to use plants which native bees and insects will be able to feed on, you will be doing your bit to help nature as nature intended it. My insects love Ragwort, Tansy, white and red clover, dandelions and other wildflowers such as Mouse-ear Hawkweed (Pilosella officinarum) which is happily spreading in my 'lawn' along with clover. The ground was poor and full of moss until I started to leave the grass to grow as it should with very little mowing, now it's looking healthy. I have some nice dandelions along the southern side of a hedge, they feed bees early in the year and actually look much nicer than having a boring 'well kept' strip.
Of course there is always the desire to try plants which look exotic, we have to experiment to satisfy our plant lust, when you are done with that go back to basics. Many of the shrubs such as Rhododendron (if you are on acidic soil) and hardy Camellias of which I have a few are as exotic as any plants.
The flood has been a distressing experience, it wasn't a natural flood but the fault of the water company for switching off sewage pumps at a nearby large institution. The advantages are, a refurbishment was needed which we didn't have to do although there's always jobs you have to do yourself, and we now have all new kitchen 'white goods' and kitchen cupboards. I have spent a lot of money on upgrading and getting new things to match the replacements, we are nearing the end! Then the upstairs needs doing.
Where are all these Brits? Psssst, I'm not one of them!
, but good to hear that you are getting the renovations done.
