Gardening ignoramus needs help!

[curlew]

I have two beds in my garden that have had nothing done to them since the bulbs stopped flowering in the Spring. I have been running past them with my eyes shut all summer, pretending they weren't there. Over half term we weeded and dug them (my children will do anything for money!). Is there anything at all that I can plant now that will stop them looking so bare until Spring? Or should I just concentrate on keeping them dug and weed free? Any ideas gratefully recieved. The soil is good if a bit on the clayey side but we get a lot of wind off the sea with salt in it. TIA.

[fortyplus]

You could get a few tough grasses in different colours or maybe Phormiums - otherwise known as New Zealand flax - clumps of sword-shaped leaves - lots of varieties in different colours and sizes. They're very tough and should withstand the salt ok.
Best advice really is to take a look in neighbours' gardens to see what's growing well. I live inland so many of the plants I think of as tough might not like the sea winds.
Next spring you could plant woody 'herbs' such as Lavender, Cotton Lavender (Santolina), Rosemary. Sea Hollies (Echinacea) would also look great.

[fortyplus]

Sorry - getting carried away with my Latin! Sea Hollies are Eryngium not Echinacea that's the daisy-like 'cone flower' which might be ok for you in a sheltered sunny spot away from the worst of the sea winds.

[hermykne]

try crocus.co.uk for ideas, you can define oyur requiremtnts by soil / sun /shade / seasons and they will give you loads of ideas
also the bbc gardening section has a whole thing on designing your garden too.

[fortyplus]

The Royal Horticultural Society also has a website which will tell you plants suitable for different locations.