Hi, a lot of good suggestions already. At this time of year I would start planting spring flowering bulbs and evergreens ready for a spring show next year then after the spring you can think about summer flowering perennials. I also agree that varying the textures in the bed can add more interest.
So for evergreens, there are plenty to choose from but just check eventual height and spread (a small conifer can grow very big and some shrubs/trees would prefer being in the ground) but things like cordylines, phormiums, hebes would do well, my favorite is thuja 'teddy' which has a ball type shape. Also have a look at evergreen grasses such as Mexican feather grass or zebra grass.
For spring bulbs, alliums such as 'globe master', 'purple sensation' or my favorite Allium Sphaerocephalon (Drumsticks), these flower a little later on so look great with summer perennials. Dwarf daffodils, crocuses, and muscari will look lovely for a spring show. Overplant these with overwintering plants such as heuchera or primroses for e.g.
Plant I forgot to mention which looks lovely this time of year is hesperantha coccinea (schizostylis) with sword shape leaves and delicate star shaped flowers, beautiful:)
Around about April/May you should be able to get the summer perennials as they'll be readily available. I think a purple flowering plant would look nice so, salvias, Russian sage, lavender, veronica (speedwell), geranium 'rozanne' just to name a few.
Your hanging baskets look lovely but I suspect the frost will get to them and they won't last the winter. Plenty of things replace them with, I usually opt for pansies or violas with trailing ivy, possibly with a small grass or an alpine and pop in a few mini daffs or muscari bulbs then change to summer bedding plants in late spring. Also look at alpine sedums which can look lovely round the edges of containers. Anyway hope this helps. Varieties in the pics are as follows:
Miscanthus sinensis 'Zebrinus' (zebra grass)
Veronica 'hocus pocus' (spike speedwell)
hesperantha coccinea 'jennifer' (schizostylis)
Narcissus 'blushing lady'
Q
