How do you choose?

I like that angels fishing rod plant!

I used to choose plants that were cheap/bargains/half dead etc Or anything that took my fancy on the day. I love big bold plants...so always loved dahlias. I like big tall things, or plants with large leaves.
Over the last few years I've changed my ideas. Hostas don't grow in my garden, hydrangeas get too dry in the summer so they are out. I don't like grasses much.
I love annuals because they come in lots of colours, bees love them, they are easy from seed and I love to potter in the greenhouse.
I've added lots of roses as I love the smell and I think I've finally found my style - but it suits my house and my love of growing from seed and potting up stuff.

I grow mainly cottage garden plants. It's a bit bare in the winter. So roses, penstemons ( easy to take cuttings every year) lupin, verbena, foxgloves, helenium, euphorbia, phlox, snap dragons, cosmos, lychnis, cornflowers and poppies. Lots of alliums. Early on its hellebores, peony, and perennial geraniums are everywhere. These are easy to split. Most of my garden is pale pinks and purples. With the odd whites here and there. Late summer oranges and yellows start to come in. I'm slowly adding in a few more perennials to keep the work down.