Looking forward to the new gardening year!

I'm sure I'm not alone in enjoying browsing through seed and plant catalogues (maybe I am?).  When they start dropping through the door in January I actually look forward to finding a quiet moment to have a good look and start planning my garden for the coming year.

Most of my flowers are perennials as I am not a fan of the hard work and waste of bedding plants.  I also don't want to spend my money on something that will only last a year.  I like my plants to be an investment.

Fruit and veg is another matter.  You can eat what you grow and that's something I find exciting.  I now have a 'mini orchard' thanks to my parents buying me five patio fruit trees for Christmas to add to my cherry, nectarine and family apple tree (three varieties grafted onto one stem).  I also have a decent strawberry bed, blueberries and an ever growing raspberry patch. I have even scavenged a tayberry from my mother-in-law.

Veg this year will be courgettes as they are always a success and we eat a lot of them.  Carrots did well in a trough last year so I will do them again and may attempt cabbages for a second year but with greater attention to caterpillars.  The boys have developed a taste for cherry tomatoes so I just have to decide on variety.  I think I will just grow Charlotte potatoes this year as they are a favourite of mine and stored well.

But, once again, I am tempted by butternut squash although I have never been successful.  Maybe this will be the year?