Heather and ?

It looks like Orange Hawkweed (fox and cubs) Fran. The heathers look a bit past it and woody. I think you could lose...certainly the purple one once it's finished flowering. They are easy to propogate. Woody heathers can also be dug out and replanted much deeper (same as Heucheras) so that only the green material is above ground. It's a good way to rejuvenate them.

Not sure about the orange flowers, Fran, my first thought was marigolds but they aren't usually in flower now!

Thanks, Karen. I did think of getting a raised bed, much easier for me all round, or at least a low wall with a planting space, to lift the plants up to where they'd be more accessible - and, of course, the walls could be planted, too.

I've bought heather, but only small ones, and they didn't thrive. I'll try taking cuttings, maybe repotting some clumps, but I'm a bit wary of doing too much and harming the plant. But there seems enough there that I could risk taking a small bit off.

Fox and Cubs, what a lovely name! I'll have to check them out.

That was my first thought, too, Gee - only plant I know of that colour. Some of my neighbours use a gardener; i've asked them to pass him/her on to me, but no idea when that'll be. I hope s/he can identify the plants I've got, so that I can look them up and check out care instructions.

I am sure the orange ones are Marigolds. They seem to have survived the mild weather.

I looke up Marigolds, the pics all seemd to be of pom-poms, which I don't think these are; not got that close!

I grow marigolds each year, Fran, as my tortoises like to munch on them. They are quite daisy like with a button centre (Calendula officinalis) although you can get other types.

thanks, Geee. I think they've just been showing me French Marigolds - I'll have to pick one so that I can have a really close look at it to give me something to comapre with the pics.