A very happy new year to all!  

A moment of reflection: 2007 was a great year for CGD – we got the new design studio up and running and now finally kitted out with a glorious mix of hi-tech wizardry, old-fashioned drawing boards, a good few book cases and a myriad of desks tables chairs and still not enough space to spread everything out, honestly!  However did we manage before?  

We worked on a good assortment of projects last year, from romantic grassy meandering gardens to sharply drawn modern courtyards, and from small front gardens to large back gardens with swimming pools – new pictures for the website promised this year.   

Caro also took on the role of Regional Coordinator for the London and South Midlands region of the Society of Garden Designers, the national and international organisation for professional garden designers, which keeps her out of mischief. 

So now we’re looking forward to 2008 ... even at this stage in the year there are always gardens to visit – one of the more interesting this month will be the Waterperry Gardens nr Wheatley in Oxfordshire, who are holding an Open Day on Sunday 20th January, 10-4.30, with lots of expert advice from their gardeners, and free entry to the gardens, nurseries and orchards, not to mention mulled apple juice! Tel 01844 339254 for directions or visit their website www.waterperrygardens.co.uk.   

Other January attractions are the RHS flower shows in London , this year on 15th and 16th January and featuring early flowering plants such as Camellias, Hellebores and Mahonias amongst others (info from www.rhs.org.uk ). The RHS is also offering lots of events featuring orchids at RHS Wisley in Surrey through January and February.  

In February don’t miss the Beth Chatto early spring walks on 14th-16th, a must for anyone within striking distance of the Colchester region (info from www.bethchatto.co.uk ).  And in the region there is a day devoted to Inspirational trees at the wonderful West Dean gardens on 9th February (www.westdean.org.uk ).  

For those of us with allotments we should be out there sorting out the soil for new planting and sowing in the spring (yes, yes, good intentions but still the dreary weather doesn’t tempt quite yet).  At least we can be mulling over the seed catalogues, much more fun.   

In the garden, don’t forget to think about summer flowering bulbs, as you’ll need to order (or at least plan to buy) them in March or thereabouts to plant for summer flowering – fabulous lilies, cannas, gladioli, alliums and so forth, easy to forget about in the general rush of spring and then you’ve missed the opportunity for another year!