Congrats on the new garden. My main offering is not to obsess too much over the amendments, preparation, etc. You are highly unlikely to 'screw up' your soil except by adding too much stuff to it.(Except compost, of course). Remember, your forebears used the earth they had and somehow managed to feed themselves. Do what you can, try stuff out and don't get put off by all the talk of what you MUST do. Get some seeds in and get started. Above all don't worry. That defeats one of the main purposes of gardening! My only other advice would be to keep on top of the weeds. Weeding is a constant process, not a once and for all thing. Hoe off seedlings regularly and pull anything larger BEFORE they get to be a problem. Weed continuously. Every time you go near the garden pull any weeds you see. Sounds like hard work but believe me it is a lot easier than trying to get rid of a weed forest later. After a while the seed bank will be depleted and you will find yourself searching for weeds to pull. All the weeds except perennial roots like bindweed can go onto your new compost heap. Which you will be starting immediately won't you? ;-) And by all means have a look at the compost forum but don't be scared off by the compost pros. They are well meaning but a bit fixated. A pile of garden and kitchen junk will turn into compost whatever you do to it. Enjoy your garden - relax - don't let it become a chore.

And I'd question the validity of clematis being a "water hog" - they are not. They like a moist root run but they do not soak up water like a sponge nor do they outcompete other plants for soil moisture. I grow all manner of clematis over and through a wide range of shrubs and trees, including some quite vigorous vining types - all combine quite easily and happily and do not require any extra watering. I'm inclined to agree that the loss of foliage on the lower partion of the enkianthus is pretty normal. In fact various websites will indicate the plant will rather open at the base and with foliage clustered at the branch tips. The natural habit of this shrub is to grow in layers or with a 'stepped' appearance and as with most shrubs, it is not densely clad in foliage on the lower layers and this becomes more pronounced as the shrub matures. And the alkaline soil requirement for clematis is a bit of a myth as well - they grow equally well in slightly to moderately acidic soil. If you are providing happy growing conditions for the enkianthus, the clematis will appreciate the same - a rich organic soil, good drainage and even moisture. I'd just question the amount of shade, as enkianthus prefers at least partial shade while the clem would be happiest in more sun.

I planted fig vine to cover cement block wall many, many years ago and now have had to take it all down. The reason, the roots are traveling to house, etc. and uprooting cement walkways. The roots have grown to at least four or five inches circumference (sp??). What a bummer. This plant covers everything. All plants near it were being covered. Planters beware....think ahead about 10 or 15 years.

I haven't had a room to plant any of the varieties that you all recommended because I only have a tiny garden and for the past two years volunteers have been growing there. It started with the seeds of a delicious but unknown cherry tomato variety given to me by a local grower. It must have been a hybrid because the one I grew tasted terrible. I pulled it out, but only after some fruit had fallen. The following spring there were several new plants. I pulled out the ones whose fruit didn't taste good and ever since I've had plants that seem well adapted to my growing conditions and produce good cherry tomatoes well into June. The volunteers have stopped producing now, but are still healthy looking.