The present invention relates to a plant-planning tool, and holder device thereof, for planning an arrangement of plants according to a desired characteristic and their lifecycle, and visualising a condition of the arrangement at any time in the year. In other words, the device, which may be referred to as the aforementioned plant-planning tool, is an interactive garden design tool used to select, compare and monitor plants for their growth, habit and colour. The present invention also relates to a method of planning an arrangement of plants and visualising the condition of the plants at any time in the year.

When designing a garden, many factors need to be considered. For a primarily aesthetic garden, these factors include the flower colour and shape, and particularly the combination of colours and shapes resulting from multiple flowering plant species being grown simultaneously in the garden. Plant species may also only flower for a particular period during the year, said period being species-specific. As such, the combination of colours and shapes may evolve as the year progresses. If flowering periods are insufficiently staggered throughout the year, colour may be entirely absent at various times of the year. Thus, detailed knowledge of both flower colour, shape and flowering period is required by the garden designer, whether new, amateur or professional. Currently, a professional garden designer selling their proposed garden design to their clients may draw or annotate a calendar with flowering periods, colours and/or shapes, to illustrate how the garden will look at different times throughout the year. However, this is a laborious process, and the resulting annotated calendar may not necessarily be easily legible. Furthermore, those new to gardening may need to conduct extensive research prior to undertaking this process, which presents a further barrier to entry.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plant-planning tool for planning an arrangement of plants according to a desired characteristic and the lifecycle of selected plant species, the plant-planning tool comprising: a plurality of lifecycle indicators which provide an indication of the desired characteristic, each lifecycle indicator having a display portion for displaying the lifecycle of a plant species over a predetermined time period; an indicator holder for releasably holding two or more said lifecycle indicators, the indicator holder having at least one stop element against which at least one said lifecycle indicator is abuttable, the at least one stop element enabling two or more of the lifecycle indicators to be alignable relative to each other in the indicator holder so that respective predetermined time periods represented by the display portions of the two or more aligned lifecycle indicators align with each other for enabling the user to visualise the stage of the lifecycle of all relevant plant species simultaneously at any time in the predetermined time period. The plant-planning tool provides a visual and easy to use device for planning the appearance and floral composition of a garden. In other words, such a garden design tool allows users to compare and select plants based on a desired characteristic, which is here, colour, by showing how they grow and when they flower and therefore when the colour will occur. The tool also enables garden design to be more accessible to new gardeners by removing the need for extensive research beforehand, as the lifecycle indicators provide necessary key information about the species, in particular the colour of the flowers and the species’ lifecycle. In other words, a seasoned gardener or equally, a person new to gardening, may use the garden design tool to confidently select year- round colour and preferred colour combinations.

A professional landscape designer may use the garden design tool to discuss planting options with a client, using it to show which plants will flower when and for how long. In other words, for the professional designer working with a client, the garden design tool allows planting options for colour to be discussed, visually demonstrated and understood during the design stage. In addition, the tool then provides a means, apparatus or device of monitoring plant growth and health over a period of time, which is here, the calendar year.

The plant-planning tool is also useful in a classroom setting to teach children about different plant species and their lifecycle in a playful manner with a tactile and visually-appealing educational tool.

Beneficially, the desired characteristic may comprise colour. This enables a garden to be planned according to the colour and colour combinations of the selected plant species. In other words, the garden design tool in its various embodiments provides the different user-groups with a means or device or apparatus to explore the use of colour in their garden arising from selected flowering plants. For the gardener, its purpose is to enable any user, even with no gardening experience, to easily see how and when selected plants will flower over a whole gardening year to ensure year round colour and to reveal when there may be colour gaps. To do this, the device and system uses coloured displaceable markers to illustrate the growth cycle and flowering habit of a plants. The system may comprise a library of displaceable markers illustrating a wide range of garden plants, so as to make it fun and easy to experiment with plant colour combinations and patterns of growth. The lifecycle indicators may be arrangeable into a Colour-Calendar to reveal colour combinations which are often difficult to imagine, and allows the user to easily explore alternative plant possibilities to create different colour arrangements.

Alternatively, the desired characteristic may comprise odour. A garden which is primarily or additionally odour-based engages a further or olfactory sense of the user and is more accessible to visually impaired people.

Optionally, the lifecycle indicators may be plantsticks. Beneficially, the predetermined time period may be a year. Such a period provides an overview of the plants’ lifecycles throughout all four seasons, such that the garden designer may select plants to ensure the garden is colourful all year round, if desired.

Advantageously, each display portion may be segmented for providing guide lines for further increasing the ease of visualisation of the lifecycle stage of the combination of plant species. Furthermore, each display portion may be uniformly segmented to indicate a 12-month time period. Preferably, the lifecycle indicators are identical in size to each other.

These features improve the legibility and ease of use of the took by aiding the alignment of lifecycle indicators with each other and with the references to the months. Beneficially, the lifecycle indicators may be elongate. Compared to non-elongate and/or square lifecycle indicators, an elongate form enables more lifecycle indicators to be included in an alignment of lifecycle indicators.

Optionally, the lifecycle indicators may be formed of at least one of: paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, wood; magnetic material; and pixels. Paper is biodegradable, or at least easily recyclable, easily replaceable, easy to print upon, light and cheap, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. The other materials are more durable and re-usable. Lifecycle indicators formed of these more durable materials may have a secondary purpose, such as serving as a label for a plant, once said plant has been planted in the garden. Lifecycle indicators formed of pixels are digital.

Beneficially, each lifecycle indicator may further comprise a tab for ease of insertion and removal of each lifecycle indicator from the indicator holder. Additionally, each lifecycle indicator may further comprise a further tab. Said further tab may enable insertion or removal of each lifecycle indicator in at least two directions. The tabs improve the ease of handling the lifecycle indicators and provide a clear indication of the desired characteristic by being brightly coloured in this case. In other words, the displaceable marker library may be envisaged to be colour-coded so that each of the plants is grouped with their corresponding flowering colours. The colour tabs of the displaceable marker library may be seen to enable colour selection.

Preferably, each lifecycle indicator further comprises a further display portion for displaying information relating to the at least one plant species, the lifecycle of which is displayed on the display portion. Such an aide-memoire provides a reminder to new and professional gardeners of key facts about the plant species and optionally an indication of the preferred environmental conditions.

Beneficially, the indicator holder may slidably receive the two or more said lifecycle indicators. Advantageously, the indicator holder may further comprise at least one channel in which at least one said lifecycle indicator is receivable. Furthermore, each channel is dimensioned such that one lifecycle indicator may be receivable in each channel. Preferably, each channel is bounded on three edges, and at least one of the bounded edges corresponds to the at least one stop element. Beneficially, the indicator holder may further comprise at least one page-element, said page-element supporting the at least one channel. Each channel bounded on three edges and receiving a lifecycle indicator enables a selection of lifecycle indicators to be visualised simultaneously whilst reducing the risk of any lifecycle indicator obscuring another and/or accidentally being removed. The channels further protect the lifecycle indicators from spills, water and/or soil.

Alternatively, at least one lifecycle indicator and the indicator holder may comprise complementary magnetic material such that the at least one lifecycle indicator may be magnetically connectable to the indicator holder. A plant-planning tool where lifecycle indicators are magnetically attachable and detachable from the indicator holder may be more appealing to children and more resistant to damage. Such a plant-planning tool is potentially usable as an educational tool. Optionally, the indicator holder may further comprise a closure element for enabling transport of the plant-planning tool whilst inhibiting accidental loss of lifecycle indicators. The plant-planning tool is more easily transportable.

Preferably, the plant-planning tool further comprises an indicator storing element for storing lifecycle indicators when the lifecycle indicators are not in use. Advantageously, the indicator storing element may have a plurality of receiver rows for receiving lifecycle indicators which are ordered into rows. Furthermore, the lifecycle indicators may be ordered by the desired characteristic. The indicator storing element provides a place to store lifecycle indicators which are not in use, in an orderly fashion whilst enabling a user to easily browse and quickly find a desired lifecycle indicator.

Furthermore, the plant-planning tool may be at least in part digital. This partly or fully digital version of the plant-planning tool may be provided as a computer software application and/or only part of the plant-planning tool may be digital for ease of updating the information thereupon. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a plant-planning holder device for planning an arrangement of plants according to a desired characteristic and the lifecycle of selected plant species, the plant-planning holder device comprising an indicator holder for releasably holding two or more lifecycle indicators, the indicator holder having a first channel and a second channel for receiving at least one lifecycle indicator each, the first channel and the second channel having a stop element each, wherein the stop elements of the first and second channels are aligned with each other for enabling the alignment of lifecycle indicators received in the first and second channels by abutting each lifecycle indicator against the aligned stop elements. The plant-planning holder device is provided without lifecycle indicators, so may be cheaper.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of planning an arrangement of plants according to a desired characteristic and the lifecycle of selected plant species, the method comprising the steps of: a] providing a plant-planning tool; b] selecting a first lifecycle indicator according to a desired characteristic and the lifecycle of the corresponding plant species; c] inserting the selected first lifecycle indicator into the garden-visualisation section of the indicator holder and abutting the first lifecycle indicator against the at least one stop element; d] selecting a second lifecycle indicator according to the desired characteristic and the lifecycle of the corresponding plant species; and e] inserting the selected second lifecycle indicator into the garden-visualisation section of the indicator holder and abutting the second lifecycle indicator against the at least one stop element, such that the first and second lifecycle indicators are aligned so that respective predetermined time periods represented by the display portions of the aligned lifecycle indicators align with each other for enabling the user to visualise the stage of the lifecycle of all relevant plant species simultaneously at any time in the predetermined time period. This method provides an easy way to create and arrange the design of a garden.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a plant-planning tool, in accordance with the first aspect of the invention;

Figure 2 shows the plant-planning tool of Figure 1 , in use in accordance with the third aspect of the invention;

Figure 3 shows a partial plan view of the plant-planning tool of Figure 1 , with a lifecycle indicator partially inserted into a channel of a garden-visualising section of an indicator holder in accordance with the third aspect of the invention;

Figure 4a shows a plan view of a blank second display portion and tabs of a lifecycle indicator of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4b shows a plan view of a blank first display portion and tabs of the lifecycle indicator of Figure 4a;

Figure 5 shows a plan view of the second display portion of Figure 4a showing information about a plant species, and the first display portion of Figure 4b showing a representation of the lifecycle of a plant species;

Figure 6 shows a close-up perspective partial view of four lifecycle indicators held within the garden-visualising section of Figure 3;

Figure 7 shows a perspective partial view of the plant-planning tool of Figure 1 , with two additional lifecycle indicators not received within the indicator holder;

Figure 8 shows a plan view of lifecycle indicators of a range of sizes;

Figure 9 shows a plan view of an embodiment of a page-element of an indicator storing element of the plant-planning tool in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 10 shows a perspective diagrammatic view of the plant-planning tool in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, with a lifecycle indicator being inserted into a channel of the garden-visualising section in accordance with the third aspect of the invention;

Figure 11 shows a plan view of a plurality of lifecycle indicators at least partially inserted into the garden-visualising section of Figure 10;

Figure 12 shows the plant-planning tool in use according to the third aspect of the invention, with lifecycle indicators inserted and aligned in the garden-visualising section of the plant-planning tool; and

Figure 13 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of a plant-planning tool in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a plant-planning tool 99 for planning an arrangement of plants in a garden according to a desired characteristic, in this case the colour, and the lifecycle of selected plant species. The plant-planning tool 99 may also be referred to as a garden design tool, a“toolbook”,“Seehow”,“See-how”, or a bespoke designed basal element. In other words, the purpose of the plant-planning tool 99 is to enable any user, regardless of gardening experience, to easily see how and when the plants grow and flower over a whole gardening year. The tool has been developed to allow multiple plants to be easily compared with each other at the same time. In this way, the user can quickly create a‘Colour-Calendar’ of their entire garden, whether existing or planned. The garden design tool is available in a number of formats. The plant-planning tool 99 comprises a plurality of lifecycle indicators 2 and an indicator holder 10.

The plant species are preferably, but not limited to, flowering plants or angiosperms as they produce flowers. The plant species may be an annual or perennial, a woody plant, a shrub, or a grass, herbaceous or Poaceae family member, a fruit-producing species, a vegetable-producing species, a crop-producing species or any other desired plant species.

Each lifecycle indicator 2 provides information about a plant species in at least one of, and preferably both text and pictorial form, as shown in Figure 3. Each lifecycle indicator 2 may also be referred to as a“plantstick” or as a“displaceable marker”. In other words, the garden design tool uses colour-coded displaceable markers (as best shown in Figures 3, 4a, 4b and 5 which enable any user to easily see how and when different plants will flower during the whole calendar year. Each Plantstick represents a single plant. In other words, each lifecyle indicator 2 provides information about exactly one plant species, but an alternative number of species may be envisioned. Between lifecycle indicators 2, said plant species may or may not differ such that two or more lifecycle indicators 2 pertain to one, two or more different plant species. Each lifecycle indicator 2 may be formed of paper, which may be a single layer or a plurality of layers of paper connected to each other. The lifecycle indicators 2 are preferably elongate and are preferably all identical in size to each other. The colour-coded displaceable markers may be used in a wide variety of embodiment forms and sizes, which may range typically from the pocket-sized format illustrated on the attached Figures, to larger‘coffee table’ formats, magnetic strips, posters, calendars, banners, children’s toys to suit different age-groups, teaching aids for schools, jigsaws, to name but a few possibilities. Each lifecycle indicator 2 comprises at least an indicator body 14. Each indicator body 14 is substantially rectangular, and thereby comprises two long indicator- edges 16a, two short indicator-edges 16b and two surfaces, as shown in Figure 4a, 4b and 5. The short indicator-edges 16b may be up to 1 10 mm long. Preferably, each lifecycle indicator 2 is 14 mm long. Any other dimension or dimensions may be envisioned however, such as 16 mm. Each indicator body 14, or at least each lifecycle indicator 2, comprises a first display portion 21 on the first of the two surfaces, and a second display portion 22 on the second of the said surfaces. Each first display portion 21 displays a representation of the lifecycle 9 of the relevant plant species over a predetermined time period, as shown in Figure 5. The first display portion 21 may also be referred to as the front face or surface, portion, section, surface or area, or the front of the lifecycle indicator 2. In other words, the surface 21 displays as a unique continuous graphic the sequential stages of the plant’s annual growth cycle from left to right in sections reflecting the months of the year. In this way the user is able to identify and arrange multiple displaceable markers located adjacently revealing the combine growing cycles and colours as they appear over the gardening year.

The predetermined time period is a year in the shown embodiment, but 6 months, 2 years or any desirable alternative time period may be considered. As such, the first display portion 21 provides information about the plant species via illustrating the condition, status, stage or phase of the lifecycle 9 throughout the year. In other words, one displaceable marker shows the annual growth and flowering-cycle of one plant. On the front of a displaceable marker the annual growth-cycle and flowering colour of one plant is uniquely shown as a continuous graphic. Each first display portion 21 comprises guide lines 12, although these may be optional.

The guide lines 12 increase the legibility and ease of alignment of the plurality of lifecycle indicators 2 when in use. The guide lines 12 result from at least the first display portion 21 or both display portions 21 , 22 of each lifecycle indicator 2 being segmented into sub-portions 5. Preferably each display portion 21 , 22, or at least the first display portion 21 is uniformly segmented to indicate 12 sub-portions 5, each sub-portion 5 corresponding to a month of the year. Thus, each display portion 21 , 22 is uniformly segmented to indicate a 12-month time period. In other words, the zone between the coloured end-tabs is subdivided into 12 equal sections to graphically represent the 12 months of the year. A unique plant illustration is applied to the front surface of each plantstick, particularly focussing on flower colour. This shows the plant’s entire annual growth cycle to be shown as a unique single illustration, from the appearance of the first shoots and leaves through to the end of its season. This illustration is positioned appropriately on or in a section of the indicator holder which may be referred to as a garden-visualising section or a calendar-grid to reveal at a glance when the plant will exist, when the flowering period occurs and for how long. It is effectively a‘picture-in-time’ of the plant’s seasonal growth cycle.

The second display portion 22 may also be referred to as the further display portion, the rear face or surface, the back portion, section, surface or area, or the back of the lifecycle indicator 2. The second display portion 22 displays key information, usually in the form of text and/or symbols, relating to the at least one plant species, the lifecycle 9 of which is displayed on the first display portion 21. In other words, key plant information is provided on the back of the displaceable marker.

As shown in Figure 5, the key information may include any number of the following: the species name, dimensions, toxicity, whether the species is an annual or perennial, habit, colour, odour or other desired characteristic, environmental requirements such as preferred soil type, light availability, water access, temperature, planting and maintenance advice, pollination-related information such as insect, bird, bat or wind pollination, pollinator species, plant species origin or phylogeny, the approximate cost of sourcing and/or maintenance of the corresponding plant species over the predetermined period of time or a fraction thereof, or any other desired information. The key information is preferably printed but may be embossed, engraved, carved, laser cut and/or may be provided in Braille. Each lifecycle indicator 2 further comprises at least one, and in this case, two tabs 4, although one or both tabs may be optional.

Each tab 4 is a projection which fulfils a plurality of functions. The first function is to facilitate or increase the ease of insertion and removal of the lifecycle indicator 2 from the indicator holder 10 by providing a graspable or holdable portion. The second function of each tab 4 is to provide information relating to a desired characteristic, which is in this case, the colour of the flower or flowers of the plant species and/or the species identity. In other words, each plantstick has colour- coded end-tabs, to match the flower colour of the plant it identifies. The plant is also identified by name. In the shown embodiment, both a common name and the genus are provided with the colour as best shown in Figure 6, but the full Latin nomenclature may be provided, and/or any information may be omitted. In other words, in the pictured embodiment 99 the displaceable markers 2 are each provided with endmost colour tabs 4 indicating the predominant plant colour and an elongated double-sided surface 21 , 22.

Each tab 4 is connectable, connected or, in this case, integrally formed with the indicator body 14. Each tab 4 extends from the short indicator-edges 16b of the indicator body 14. The lifecycle indicator 2 may be up to 980 mm long. Preferably here, each lifecycle indicator 2 is 136 mm long in the shown embodiment, inclusive of the lengths of the long indicator-edge 16a and both tabs 4, but 140 mm long or any alternative measurement may be envisioned. In other words, the Plantsticks may be 980 mm x 110 mm, 140mm long x 16mm high, 136 mm or any other desired combination of measurements. Both tabs 4 are identical to one another although this may not necessarily be the case. If the dimensions of the lifecycle indicator are amended, the amended lifecycle indicators preferably but not necessarily have the same aspect ratio and/or are proportionally smaller or larger, as shown in Figure 8. Each tab 4 is substantially square or rectangular. This provides an easy portion to grasp as well as providing sufficient space to provide information such as the species name. Additionally, each tab 4 has two corners, one or, both of which in this case, are rounded or chamfered, although this is optional. In other words, in some embodiments the displaceable marker size and shape may vary, for example it may not have pointed ends as shown in the figures attached. These may be curved or square with radius corners or some other format to suit the related product embodiment.

The indicator holder 10 is a support or holder for engaging, receiving and/or holding at least one, and preferably two or more of the plurality of lifecycle indicators 2. -The indicator holder 10 may be referred to as a“Seehow” manual. Preferably, the indicator holder 10 releasably receives the lifecycle indicators 2, but non-releasably holding, supporting or engaging the indicators may be envisioned. The indicator holder 10 is a binder, although any other type of support may be envisioned, such as a folder or display book. The indicator holder 10 may be a loose-leaf binder, a spring binder or a ring binder. In other words, in the example embodiment pictured the displaceable markers 2 are held in a bespoke designed basal element 99 which comprises a loose-leaf binder 10) possibly with removable wallets. This is one option of many designed to optimise the use of the displaceable markers for the specific user-group. As such, the indicator holder 10 comprises a cover element 18 and a fastening means 8. In other words, the indicator holder 10 comprises an outer case or body and at least one fastener to allow it to be easily carried between the home, garden, plant nursery, garden centre etc. Furthermore, the indicator holder 10 further comprises a closure element 20, although this feature may be optional. The fastening means 8 is a fastening mechanism or device or fastener which comprises at least one, and, as shown, six rings. Said rings or fastening means 8 are closably openable but this may be optional. The cover element 18, as shown in Figure 7, is at least partly, and here, substantially rigid, although this need not be the case. The cover element 18 may be formed of plastics, paper, cardboard, metal, wood, fabric, leather, any other suitable material, magnetic material or any combination thereof. In the shown embodiment, the cover element 18 has a spine which enables the cover element 18 to be foldable along the spine, for compactness of the plant-planning tool 99. In other words, in the pictured embodiment the garden design tool 99 takes the form of a small book / folder or‘case’, being a convenient size to be safely carried in a pocket or small bag, containing both the displaceable marker library 1 and colour-calendar pages 11. Such an embodiment may be envisaged to be durable, easy to use and have a quality feel to it. Other embodiments may be designed in other formats appropriate for use in other environments such as home, office, school, garden shed for example.

The closure element 20 allows the indicator holder 10 to be reversibly closable. The closure element 20 may also be referred to as a closure mechanism. This feature increases the ease of transport of the plant-planning tool 99 whilst preventing or inhibiting accidental loss of lifecycle indicators 2 from the indicator holder 10. In other words, in the pictured embodiment it may be envisaged that the system is provided with a closure mechanism. In this way the bespoke basal element may be arranged to be capable of closure when the selected displaceable markers or Plantsticks are in place, such that the tool is easily portable while the displaceable markers or Plantsticks remain secure. Such a closure system may be a zip, elastic, folding flap or similar. The closure element 20 is preferably in this embodiment a zip, although alternative closure elements may comprise any number of the following: a hook and loop fasteners or Velcro (RTM), one or more interference fit poppers, buttons, clips, fasteners, belt sections, one or more laces, folding flaps, magnets, elastics, or any other suitable engagement means or mechanisms or devices or connector.

Crucially, the indicator holder 10 further comprises at least one garden-visualising section 34. The or each garden-visualising section 34 may be referred to as a display-section or a calendar-grid. In other words, in the embodiments pictured the displaceable markers are stored within the bespoke designed basal element. A separate section for the display of the selected displaceable markers is provided to the front. Other options may have a different arrangement. The garden- visualising section 34 enables a user to visualise what the garden will look like throughout the year. The garden-visualising section 34 may be non-integrally formed with, separably connected to, detachably connectable with, or receivable in or on the indicator holder 10. The garden- visualising section 34 also has at least one indication of the month 3 throughout the year. A plurality of garden-visualising sections 34 enables multiple garden designs to be planned and visualised with one plant-planning tool.

The or each indication of the month 3 comprises a plurality of words, abbreviations, symbols or a combination thereof, corresponding to each month. The indication of the month 3 may also be referred to as a calendar guide or a month guide. The indication of the month 3 is inscribed at the top and/or at the bottom of the garden-visualising section 34, and/or may be positioned anywhere therebetween. In other words, the top and bottom rows of all of the pages may be used for displaying the month guides 3, where the rows in between may be used for the displaceable markers or Plantsticks. The word, abbreviation or symbol of each month is appropriately positioned so as to correspond with each relevant monthly sub-portion 5 of each in-use lifecycle indicator 2 and to clearly indicate the relevant month. The or each indication 3 may be written, etched, engraved, laser cut, embossed, printed such as directly on the indicator holder 10 or part thereof or on a slip of paper which is subsequently receivable in or on and/or fastened to the indicator holder 10 or part thereof. The garden-visualising section 34, or at least the indicator holder 10, comprises at least one page-element 6.

The or each page-element 6 is a support, page or leaf, in or upon which two or more lifecycle indicators 2 are receivable. Each page-element 6 may also be referred to as colour-calendar pages. In other words, the pictured embodiment 99 comprises colour-calendar pages, which are preferably, but not necessarily, at the front. Each page-element 6 may be connected or connectable to the indicator holder 10, by being bound, glued, or here, by having at least one and preferably six perforations 7 for receiving therethrough the closably openable rings 8. Each page- element 6 is rectangular and therefore has two long page-edges 24a and two short page-edges 24b as best shown in Figure 1 1. Each page-element 6 is preferably portrait-orientated such that the fastening means or rings 8 are associated, insertable or receivable at, in or adjacent to the long page-edges 24a of the page-elements 6. As such, the indicator holder 10 may be considered to be substantially a book. The or each page-element 6 or part thereof is made of plastics and may optionally be at least partially transparent. These features provide two advantages.

The first advantage is that partial or full transparency enables both first and second display portions 21 , 22 to be easily viewed when in-use without necessarily needing to remove the lifecycle indicator 2 from the indicator holder 10 to view the either display portion 21 , 22 of the in- use lifecycle indicator 2. The second advantage is that plastics are waterproof, such that the lifecycle indicators 2 are at least partly protected from liquids, such as rain, and/or dirt, which may be useful if the plant-planning tool 99 is used outside.

The or each page-element 6, or at least the indicator holder 10 comprises at least one, and preferably a plurality of channels 1 1 , extending in rows along the longitudinal extent of each portrait-oriented page-element 6. In other words, these page-elements 6 have stacked parallel laterally extending channels or slots 11 arranged for receipt of the displaceable markers. Channels 11 are provided on both side of a page-element 6, for compactness of the plantplanning tool 99. However, it may be envisioned that channels may be provided on one side of each page-element only, for example to prevent or inhibit the second display portion of an in-use lifecycle indicator to be obscured from view by another lifecycle indicator. In the preferred embodiment, the garden-visualising section 34 provides a double-page spread, to include more plant species in the selection in the same year than a single page-element can support, spread over two pages. Such a double-page spread may be provided by having channels 11 on the cover element and a page-element, or on two opposing faces of two page-elements 6.

Each channel 11 receives and holds at least one, but preferably exactly one lifecycle indicator. Each channel 1 1 may also be referred to as a groove, slot, holder-channel, an indicator-receiver, or a wallet. Each channel 11 is elongate and suitably dimensioned to receive one lifecycle indicator 2 of the desired size or of a smaller size. As such, each channel 1 1 has two long channel- edges or sides 26a and a short channel-edge or side 26b. Each channel 1 1 is bounded on at least two, and preferably all three channel-edges 26a, 26b. The long channel edges 26a of each channel 11 are preferably substantially parallel to the short page-edges 24b of each page-element 6. The channel-edges 26a, 26b are preferably continuously bound along the whole extent of each edge 26a, 26b but this may not necessarily be the case. Each channel 11 is also preferably closed by a cover or sleeve so as to form a thin, elongate cavity in which the lifecycle indicator 2 is receivable, particularly by sliding. Said sleeve or part thereof is transparent to enable viewing of the first display portion 21.

The indicator holder 10 further comprises alignment means 52 which is an alignment mechanism, apparatus or device for aligning the plurality of lifecycle indicators 2, particularly the monthly subportions 5 delineated by the guide lines 12, and/or the start and/or end of the year or predetermined time period.

In this embodiment, the alignment means 52 comprises at least one or preferably, a plurality of stop elements against which the or each lifecycle indicator 2 is abuttable, whereby two or more of the lifecycle indicators 2 are alignable so that respective predetermined time periods represented by the display portions 21 of at least two lifecycle indicators 2 correspond. The stop elements may be a plurality of protrusions. In this embodiment however, at least one of the bounded edges 26a, 26b of each channel 11 , preferably the short channel-edge 26b, corresponds to the at least one stop element. Thus, at least one of the bounds corresponds to the at least one stop element. Preferably, the channels 11 are oriented such that the stop elements are proximal to the spine and/or fastening means or rings 8, and consequently, an opening of each channel 11 is distal to the spine and/or ring 8. As the garden-visualising section 34 is preferably a doublepage spread, each lifecycle indicator 2 may be inserted in at least two directions into the indicator holder 10. This versatility is aided by having a tab 4 on either end of the lifecycle indicator 2.

The indicator holder 10, or at least the plant-planning tool 99, further comprises an indicator storing element 1 for storing lifecycle indicators 2 when at least one of the lifecycle indicators 2 is not in use. The indicator storing element 1 is positioned preferably behind the or at least one of the garden-visualising sections 34, although it may alternatively be positioned before, near, below, or above the garden-visualising section 34. The indicator storing element 1 may be referred to as a Garden Tool library, an index, a library, or library element in which the lifecycle indicators 2 are ordered, grouped and/or indexed. The lifecycle indicators 2 are ordered by the desired characteristic which is, in this embodiment, flower colour. In other words, the key components of the design tool are the‘Plantsticks’. These are stored by colour in the library section. The selected plant colours are in order: white, pink, yellow, orange, green, blue, red and purple, although the order may be altered and/or colours be omitted or added. In an alternative embodiment, the order of the colours may be: white, pink, red, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange. Within each colour category, the lifecycle indicators 2 may be further classified or ordered. In particular, the lifecycle indicators 2 are organised chronologically. For instance, the lifecycle indicators 2 may be ordered by the start, peak or end of their flowering phase.

The indicator storing element 1 comprises at least one page-element 28, shown in Figure 9. The or each page-element 28 is substantially similar to a page-element 6 of the garden-visualising section 34. Detailed description of the common features is omitted for brevity. The indicator storing element 1 or page-elements 28 thereof preferably also comprise at least one indication of the month, similarly to the garden-visualising section 34. The indicator storing element 1 and/or the at least one page-element 28, comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of wallets, channels or receiver rows 30. In other words, bespoke wallets hold within the library, the interchangeable Plantsticks.

The lifecycle storing element 1 may store lifecycle indicators corresponding to up to 150 different species, but any number may be envisioned and/or the number of species may be dependent and/or limited by the number of pages 28 and/or receiver rows 30. In other words, the lifecycle storing element 1 , which may be referred to as a library, may comprise approximately 150 interchangeable‘Plantsticks’ held in bespoke wallets or receiver rows 30. Preferably, the lifecycle indicators 2 are arranged in order of colour and located to be easily viewed and selected within the lifecycle storing element 1.

Each receiver row 30 is able to receive at least one, and optionally a plurality of lifecycle indicators 2. The plurality of receiver rows 30 enables the lifecycle indicators 2 received therein to be ordered into rows. Each receiver row 30 is similar or identical to a channel 11 of the garden-visualising section 34, thus detailed description of the common features is omitted for brevity. If a plurality of lifecycle indicators 2 is received within one receiver row 30, preferably the lifecycle indicators 2 relate to the same plant species, for space usage efficiency and ease of finding a lifecycle indicator 2 corresponding to a desired species.

In use, the user obtains a plant-planning tool 99 comprising at least the indicator holder 10. Furthermore, the garden-visualising section 34; the indicator storing element 1 ; and at least one, but preferably all lifecycle indicators 2; are preferably also provided with or as part of the indicator holder 10 but may be provided separately or as part of a further plant-planning tool or indicator holder. The plant-planning tool 99 may be provided as a kit of parts. If not already done, the lifecycle indicators 2 may need to be inserted into and stored within the indicator storing element 1 until the user is ready to design their garden.

The user would insert a first lifecycle indicator 2 into a first receiver row 30 according to the desired order and suborder. In this case, the first lifecycle indicator 2 would correspond to a plant species having white flowers and flowering in January and be received in the top left-most receiver row 30 but this may not be necessarily the case. A plurality of lifecycle indicators 2 corresponding to the same plant species may be inserted at the same time or sequentially into the same receiver row 30.

A second or further lifecycle indicator 2, corresponding to a different plant species is inserted into a second or further receiver row 30. These steps are repeated until all or a subset of lifecycle indicators 2 are filed and displayed in an orderly fashion. The subset may correspond to as many plant species as desired or selected by the user and/or as many species and/or lifecycle indicators 2 as can be accommodated by the indicator storing element 1.If not already done, the indicator storing element 1 may be inserted into and/or connected to the indicator holder 10, prior to or after ordering the lifecycle indicators 2 therein.

Similarly, the garden-visualising section 34 may need to be inserted into the indicator holder 10. To do so, the user would open the fastening means 8 which are rings in this embodiment. The user engages the indicator storing element 1 with the fastening means 8, in this case by threading the or each perforated page-element 28 of the indicator storing element 1 onto the rings 8. Similarly, the user engages the or each page-element 6 of the garden-visualising section 34 with the fastening means 8 by threading the page-elements 6 onto the rings 8. The garden-visualising section 34 is preferably but not necessarily infront of the indicator storing element 1. The user then closes the rings 8. The user can close the plant-planning tool 99 by folding the cover element 18 along the spine, and optionally by the closure element 20, for ease of transport, to protect the lifecycle indicators 2 and to prevent or inhibit loss thereof.

Upon deciding to design and plan the aesthetics of a garden, the user would open the plant planning tool 99, which may require opening or unfastening the closure element 20. The user selects a first lifecycle indicator 2 according to a desired characteristic and the lifecycle of the corresponding plant species; in this case, according to their flower colour and lifecycle, with the tabs 4 providing a quick reference guide to at least the colour.

If the lifecycle indicators 2 have previously been inserted into the indicator storing section, the user selects the lifecycle indicators 2 therefrom. If not previously inserted, the user may select the lifecycle indicators 2 from a plurality of loose lifecycle indicators 2.

To select one or more lifecycle indicators 2, the user may review the colours liable to be visible in the garden with reference to the pre-printed displaceable marker tab ends 4 visible in the library section 1 and the surfaces showing growth cycles 9. Such a user, when they would like to see the effect of, for instance, a yellow flowering plant in their garden at a particular time of year, may refer to the displaceable marker library 1 , or similar pages used for storage of the displaceable markers, showing yellowing flowering plants, to retrieve a displaceable marker for placement into one of the slots in the colour-calendar pages 11. Although the user may lay the selected lifecycle indicators loose on a surface, preferably, the user opens the plant-planning tool 99 to the garden-visualising section 34 before inserting each lifecycle indicator 2 into a channel 11 , as shown in Figure 10. The user holds one of the tabs 4 of a selected first lifecycle indicator 2. The lifecycle indicator 2 is then inserted into the channel 11 , preferably by sliding the other tab 4 and indicator body 14 into the channel 11 , with the first display portion 21 being visible. The inserted, other tab 4 and/or lifecycle indicator 2 is made to abut against the alignment means 52, in this case the at least one stop element.

The user then selects a second lifecycle indicator 2 according to the desired characteristic and the lifecycle of the corresponding plant species, such as from the indicator storing element 1 , and inserts the selected second lifecycle indicator 2 into the garden-visualising section 34 of the indicator holder 10.

The second lifecycle indicator 2 is made to abut against the at least one stop element, such that the first and second lifecycle indicators 2 are aligned with each other in the indicator holder 10 so that respective predetermined time periods represented by the first display portions 21 of the two or more aligned lifecycle indicators correspond or align with each other for enabling the user to visualise the stage of the lifecycle of all relevant plant species simultaneously at any time in the predetermined time period. In other words, plantsticks are selected from the library following which they may be arranged by the user on any flat surface or they may be inserted into the Colour-Calendar located at the front. By arranging the plantsticks in parallel on any flat surface or, preferably, by slotting them into the Colour-Calendar, the user can effectively build a picture of their garden or planting scheme, revealing the ebb and flow of the plants over the whole gardening year. This effectively creates a‘picture in time’ of the whole garden or planting scheme. The user may select a subset of or all desired lifecycle indicators 2 in a first step then in a second step insert all selected lifecycle indicators 2 into the garden-visualising section 34 as shown in Figure 11. Alternatively, the user may proceed with one lifecycle indicator at a time.

The process is repeated with each selected lifecycle indicator 2 being inserted in turn into a channel 11 , said channel 11 being different relative to the channel or channels 11 of all other lifecycle indicators 2. Thus, the indicator holder 10 slidably receives the two or more said lifecycle indicators 2.

The alignment means 52, in this case, the plurality of stop elements, enables all inserted lifecycle indicators 2 to be aligned with each other thus their respective monthly sub-portions 5 are aligned with each other and with the corresponding month indication. In this condition, it is easy to read and envision how the garden will look, in particular the colour and/or shape combinations during each month or part thereof, as best shown in Figure 12. In other words, using the selected displaceable markers as a planning tool, a user can see and arrange the colours of plants, in particular according to what or which species, when the species flowers, and where in a defined space such as a garden or planted border.

The user may rearrange at any time the order, positioning and/or change the selection of lifecycle indicators 2 by removing and/or inserting more lifecycle indicators 2. In other words, the device makes it easier and quicker for users to plan for colour their garden. The use of unique colour graphics showing the annual plant cycles opens up possibilities for users, both amateur and professional, and the simple slide in/out displaceable markers makes it a quick, interactive and enjoyable process. Furthermore, once created, the Colour-Calendar also reveals the absence of flower colour, enabling the user to easily fill the colour gaps by selecting additional plants from the Garden Tool library, should this be desired.

The combination of the gardening-visualising-section and the inserted selection of lifecycle indicators 2 received therein, may be referred to as an annual growing chart or a garden colour- calendar or a“Colour-Calendar”. In other words, many displaceable markers 2 of selected plants may be arranged together to create a garden colour-calendar. See Figures 1 , 2, 3, 7. The front section, corresponding to the page-elements 6, having additional bespoke wallets or channels 11 allow the user to combine their selected plantsticks to create their own bespoke annual Colour- Calendar. Because the Colour-Calendar represents the whole year, it provides a look ahead’, revealing the garden‘in time’ and showing what to expect and when.

The annual growing chart may be detached and/or suspending on a wall, for example, for ease of visualisation. In other words, the displaceable markers may be held in a bespoke basal element 99 which may contain both a library 1 of many displaceable markers and a separate layout section forming a garden colour-calendar as shown in Figures 1 , 2, 3, 7, where the selected displaceable markers may be located. Selected displaceable markers may be arranged together within the bespoke basal element or laid out separately, to enable a user to plan and to see how the colours of the selected plants will visually combine over the whole annual cycle. The garden colour- calendar can then be used to monitor plant performance. The colour-calendar of selected plants is effectively a window in time revealing the users garden over a whole year, thereby effectively producing a view in 4D.When the annual growing chart is no longer required, the selected lifecycle indicators 2 are removed from the garden-visualising section 34 and re-positioned into the indicator storing element 1 until further use.

The invention has been described byway of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. The garden design tool illustrated is one way of bringing the displaceable markers together to enable the plants in a user’s garden to be seen over the whole annual cycle as a single graphic display. The means by which this is done can have many variations to suit the intended users’ requirements. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Whilst angiosperms, due to having colourful flowers, are preferred in this embodiment, other plants, woody plants, or trees such as gymnosperms and/or aquatic plants, may be envisioned in addition to or instead of angiosperms. Whilst the design of a garden is the primary focus, it could be envisioned that the arrangement of plants may be in a field or on plot of land, indoors, in an aquaponic or hydroponic system or a hydroculture.

The desired characteristic in this embodiment comprises colour, and preferably, the colour or colours of the or each flower. In an alternative embodiment, the colour and/or size of any other part of the plant, such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, leaves, stems, roots, bracts, or any combination thereof may be envisioned. Alternatively or additionally, the desired characteristic may comprise odour, flowering time of the year, ripening time of the year to ensure harvest throughout the year, hardiness, suitability to the environmental conditions, attractiveness to insects, or any other desired characteristic or combination of characteristics. For instance, plants may be selected for the fruit and vegetables they produce, rather than the colour of the flowers. Whilst in this case, the garden-visualising section 34 comprises at least one page-element 6, it may be envisioned that the at least one-page-element may be omitted such that the at least one channel is directly formed in or on the cover element 18 or is connected thereto instead. The garden-visualising section may even be provided and/or used without a holder and/or without being inserted into a holder. The garden-visualising section may substantially a standalone chart which may be displayable on a wall, for example.

Whilst the garden-visualising section 34 preferably shows plants to be displayed in a single garden in a single year, it could be envisioned that the garden-visualising section may allow the state to be visualised over at least one year, such as via the double spread and/or by comprising a further at least one page-element. Additionally, the state of two or more gardens may be visualised over at least one year.

Whilst each page-element 6 is a portrait-presented plastics rectangle with perforations 7 along one or both long page-edges 24a to be connectable therealong, alternatively or additionally, each portrait-oriented page-element may be connectable to the indicator holder along a short page- edge, for example by having perforations along one or both short page-edges. Each page- element may be presented in landscape and/or may even be square, hexagonal, partly curved, polygonal, whether regular or irregular, flower shaped, or any other suitable shape. The fastening means 8 comprises a plurality of rings in this embodiment. However, alternative fastening means may include one or more clasps, foldable protrusions, laces, ribbons, staples, glue, stitching or any other suitable fastener.

In a further modification to the present embodiment, at least one of the lifecycle indicators, at least one page-element and/or at least part of the plant-planning tool may be formed of at least one of: paper, carboard, metal, wood, fabric, magnetic material, plastics or any combination thereof. In the case of magnetic material, the indicator holder may magnetically hold at least one of the lifecycle indicators. In the case of wood lifecycle indicators, drawings, words or symbols may be engraved by laser cutting for additional durability.

Whilst lifecycle indicators 2 are slidably receivable in channels 11 , or in receiver rows 30 which a closed by a sleeve, it may be that the channels or receiver rows are open channels having no sleeve. Such a channel and/or receiver row may have a groove along each of its long edges with which part of the lifecycle indicators is engageable with, for example, by being received therein. The edges may be discontinuous such that the grooves may be discontinuous.

In a further modification to the present embodiment, no channels or receiver rows may be provided, and the lifecycle indicators are connectable or connected by another means. For example, magnets may be envisioned.

In a further modification of the present embodiment, it could be envisioned that the plant-planning tool or any part thereof, such as garden-visualising section and/or the indicator holder may be adapted to be hung on or connected to a wall, and/or may be substantially a poster. Said part may be at least partly magnetic, such that magnetic lifecycle indicators may be engaged therewith. This may be particularly desirable for instance in a classroom, meeting room and/or garden shed.

Alternatively, in the case of magnetic lifecycle indicators, these may be directly laid upon and/or engaged with a suitable surface, adapted to interact with magnetic material, without requiring a holder and/or garden-visualising section.

Alternatively, each lifecycle indicator may have a perforation to enable it to be engaged thereby with the indicator holder, for example, by each ring being receivable within the perforation. The interaction of the ring and the perforation provides the alignment means and/or stop element such that these alternative lifecycle indicators may be aligned. Optionally, the lifecycle indicators may not be releasable from the indicator holder.

If the indicator lifecycle is made of a suitable material or combination of materials, each indicator lifecycle may have a further function of marking the location of the plant species in situ. The user may remove the indicator lifecycle or part thereof, from the indicator holder upon planting the corresponding plant species. This enables the user to avoid duplication, to know which plants have already been planted and where. Whilst the monthly indications are written in this embodiment, the or each indication of the month may be detachably connectable or receivable, for example in a further channel, similarly to a lifecycle indicator. Alternatively or additionally, the time indication may indicate different time periods corresponding to the guide lines, such as a quarter, or a trimester, instead of or in addition to the month.

Whilst both tabs 4 are substantially rectangular or square with chamfered or rounded corners in the preferred embodiment, one or both tabs may alternatively be substantially triangular. A pointed tab such would further facilitate the insertion of the indicator lifecycle into the ground. Other shapes for one or both tabs may be envisioned, such as at least partly curved or non- curved, circular, hemi-circular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, or any other polygon, whether regular or irregular, a jig-saw tab and/or protrusion. Additionally or alternatively, one or both tabs may even be formed in the shape of the flower, fruit, seed and/or leaf of the relevant plant species. This may be particularly desirable for educational purposes. One or both tabs may be omitted entirely, reversibly or non-reversible detachable from the indicator body for example by being tear-off strips. In other words, in some embodiments the Plantsticks size and shape may vary, for example a lifecycle indicator may not have pointed ends or tabs as shown in the figures attached. These may be curved or square with radius corners or some other format to suit the related product embodiment. In some embodiments each lifecycle indicator size and shape may vary, for example to suit different purposes, and/or may be substantially jig-saw pieces.

Whilst the current embodiment has first and second display portions 21 , 22 on different surfaces, it could easily be envisioned that the second display portion may be positioned on the same surface or side as the first display portion, for example on the tab or tabs and/or the indicator body may be foldable such that the first and second display portions on the same surface are made to abut each other. Alternatively or additionally, the second display portion may be left blank or be omitted entirely.

The indicator storing element 1 enables an orderly presentation of the lifecycle indicators 2, classified according to the colour of their flower. Alternative orders may be envisioned, for example, based on the colour of the stem or another part of the plant or another desired characteristic. Wthin each category, lifecycle indicators, presently ordered chronologically, may be instead ordered by another characteristic, such as alphabetically, by species and/or genus name, another desired characteristic such as odour or whether the plant or part thereof is edible, or preferred environmental conditions required, as examples.

In a further modification to the current embodiment, the indicator storing element could simply be a pocket, sleeve, opening or cavity, such as a close able cavity into which lifecycle indicators are inserted and stored, in no particular order. The indicator storing element may be provided as part of the holder, detachably or non-detachably, or completely separately from the indicator holders, as part of a further holder. Optionally, the plant-planning tool or part thereof may be provided with a handle for ease of transport.

The plant-planning tool or holder device may be provided with only the indicator holder and without lifecycle indicators. As such, the plant-planning holder device is provided for planning an arrangement of plants according to a desired characteristic and the lifecycle of selected plant species, the plant-planning tool comprising an indicator holder for releasably holding two or more lifecycle indicators, the indicator holder having a first channel and a second channel for receiving at least one lifecycle indicator each, the first channel and the second channel having a stop element each, wherein the stop elements of the first and second channels are aligned with each other for enabling the alignment of lifecycle indicators received in the first and second channels by abutting each lifecycle indicator against the aligned stop elements.

A subset of lifecycle indicators may be acquired secondarily, for example as a supplementary pack. The or each pack may be categorised, for example, by containing lifecycle indicators relating to only species having flowers of only one colour, or by soil type, or any other categorisation. Thus, the cost is tailored to the designer’s requirements, instead of a flat fee for all lifecycle indicators. There may be separate packs of lifecycle indicators aimed at or tailored to new, amateur and professional gardeners respectively. In other words, different displaceable marker libraries may be available for amateur and professional use.

Referring now to Figure 13, there is shown a plant-planning tool 199 provided in the form of a computer-software application or‘app’, on a terminal 132. Similarly to the first embodiment, the plant-planning tool 199 comprises a plurality of lifecycle indicators 102, and an indicator holder 110, having a garden-visualisation section 134 and an indicator storing element 101.

Features of the second embodiment which are similar to features of the first embodiment have similar reference numerals with“100” added.

The terminal 132 is a physical device which is suitable for enabling the user to select, arrange and display lifecycle indicators 102. The terminal 132 is a computer, which may be desktop or handheld, such as, but not limited to a mobile telecommunications device. The terminal 132 comprises a user-interface 136 and a processor 138 (in dashed lines as an internal feature in this embodiment). In this case, the terminal 132 also comprises a memory unit 140, a telecommunications receiver 142 and a projector element 144 but any of these features may be optional.

The processor 138 processes data and is communicable with at least one of, and preferably, all of the following: the user- interface 136, the processor 138, the memory unit 140, the telecommunications receiver 142, and a projector element 144. In particular the processor 138 receives, interprets and responds to any inputs or commands received from the user-interface 136, the memory unit 140, the telecommunications receiver 142 and/orthe projector element 144. A response may include any of the following: altering a display of the terminal 132, calculating data, saving, deleting, downloading and/or uploading data, or any other suitable response.

The memory unit 140 enables at least the indicator storing element 101 , in this case data typically provided in a database, to be stored thereupon. The memory unit 140 may be detachably connectable to, near and/or removably receivable within the terminal, or, as shown, is non- detachably and/or non-removably received within the terminal 132, as indicated by dashed lines. The telecommunications receiver 142 enables communication, by wire and/or wirelessly with another terminal. Communication is preferably two-way, such that a design project which may include an annual growing chart, a garden design and/or one or more lifecycle indicators 102 may be imported or exported from the terminal 132.

The projector element 144 enables a garden design, annual growing chart and/or lifecycle indicators 102 to be projected onto a large surface, for example for use in a classroom or in a meeting. The projector element 144 may comprise at least one magnifying element 146 and/or at least one lighting element 148 for emitting light. The magnifying element 146 may be at least one lens or lens element. The at least one lighting element 148 may be positioned inwards of the magnifying element 146 such that at least part of the light emitted therefrom traverses the magnifying element 146 and is magnified so as to form a larger image on a surface.

The user-interface 136 comprises a screen element 150 and at least one button to enable the user to interact with the terminal 132. The screen element 150 displays the lifecycle indicators 102. The screen element 150 is a screen, and preferably a tactile or interactable screen. The buttons may be physical; digital, in which case they are preferably displayed on the screen; or a combination thereof. Preferably, the screen element 150 shows both the garden-visualisation section 134 and the indicator storing element 101 simultaneously. This may not always be possible, for example due to the screen element 150 being too small to present both the garden- visualisation section 134 and the indicator storing element 101 simultaneously whilst both remaining legible. In this case, the screen element 150 may provide a menu to navigate the plant planning tool computer-software application or part thereof. Alternatively, the screen element 150 may allow the user to swipe the screen to access different parts of the plant-planning tool 199. As such, the app may be set up similarly to a book or binder and swiping in a direction on the screen enables a virtual page to be turned. The screen element 150 therefore is able to transition between the different modes, depending on the nature of the terminal 132 and/or size of the screen element 150.

The lifecycle indicators 102 of the second embodiment are digital versions of and fulfil the same function as the lifecycle indicators 2 of the first embodiment. Detailed description of the common features is omitted for brevity. In the second embodiment, the lifecycle indicators 102 are buttons displayable on the screen element 150. The lifecycle indicators 102 are formed of pixels in this embodiment. The lifecycle indicators 102 have an indicator body 114 and optionally one or two tabs 104. As each indicator body 114 is digital, the indicator body 114 may not have a front and back surface. However, the indicator body 114 has a first display portion 121 which is substantially similar to the first display portion 21 of the first embodiment, showing the lifecycle 109 of the selected plant species throughout the year and being segmented by guide lines 112. The guide lines 112 preferably segment the first display portion 121 into 12 monthly sub-portions 105. The indicator body 114 may also comprise a second display portion which may drop down from, and/or temporarily replace the first display portion 121 or at least become temporarily visible anywhere on the screen element 150.

The indicator holder 110 in the second embodiment comprises a table having at least a garden- visualising section 134, in which selected lifecycle indicators 102 are displayable. The combination of the garden-visualising section 134 and selected lifecycle indicators 102 may be considered as or referred to as an annual growing chart.

The table and/or the garden-visualising section 134 comprises a plurality of rows 1 11 and an alignment means 152 for aligning all the lifecycle indicators 102 for ease of readability. The plurality of rows 1 11 may be positioned on a page-element 106.

The alignment means 152 is at least one, and in this case, a plurality of stop elements. These may be in the form of a line, character, a code command or the edge of the screen element 150

The indicator storing element or library 101 of the second embodiment is similar to the indicator storing element 1 of the first embodiment and fulfils the same function. Detailed description of the common features is omitted for brevity. Preferably, the table further comprises the indicator storing element 101. The indicator storing element 101 has a plurality of receiver rows 130 for receiving digital lifecycle indicators 102 which are ordered into rows. The receiver rows 130 may be on one or more page-elements 128.

The indicator storing element 101 comprises a search tool for enabling the user to easily select a desired lifecycle indicator but this may be optional. The indicator storing element 101 is communicable with the processor 138 and with the receiver 142, to enable import or export of at least one lifecycle indicator 102 and/or updating the information thereupon.

The plant-planning tool 199 or part thereof further comprises at least one indication of the month 103, similarly to the indication of the month 3 of the first embodiment, for providing an indication of the month, corresponding with the aligned sub-portions 105, and increase the legibility of the plant-planning tool 199. Detailed description of the common features is omitted for brevity.

In use, the user turns the terminal 132 on. The plant-planning tool 199 adjusts to the screen element 150 size by providing a navigation menu and/or the ability to swipe and/or by displaying both the garden-visualising section 134 and the indicator storing element 101 simultaneously as part of the table.

If not already done so, lifecycle indicators 102 may need to be imported and uploaded to the indicator storing element 101 , even if only temporarily and/or the information updated. The lifecycle indicators 102 are subsequently ordered therein into receiver rows 130. Here, the lifecycle indicators 102 are ordered by at least the desired characteristic, which is colour in this embodiment. Furthermore, the indicators 102 are ordered chronologically within each colour section, but this may be optional. Any of these processes may be done manually by the user, or in an automated fashion by the plant-planning tool 199, upon request by the user, periodically, continuously, and/or whenever the plant-planning tool 199 is used.

Prior to use, the garden-visualising section 134 may be empty. Alternatively, the indicator holder 110 may have stored an annual growing chart consisting of the garden-visualising section 134 populated by an assortment of selected lifecycle indicators 102, whether from a previous session using the plant-planning tool 199 or imported, such as from the memory unit 140, the app and/or from another terminal. This enables previous work to be easily be uploaded and/or continued.

In all cases, the user searches and selects at least one lifecycle indicator 102 in the indicator storing element 101 according to a desired characteristic and the lifecycle 109 of the species. If provided, the search tool may be used to accelerate the process. The lifecycle indicator 102 or a copy thereof is subsequently transferred to the garden-visualising section 134. This may be done by as tapping, double tapping, holding, drag and dropping, selecting an option to transfer such as from a menu of actions or any other suitable action or combination or actions. When the lifecycle indicator or indicators 102 are transferred into the garden-visualising section 134 of the table, each lifecycle indicator 102 is inserted into a row 11 1 , manually or automatically. The lifecycle indicators 102 are also made to be aligned by the alignment means 152, such that the monthly sub-portions 105 line up with each other and with the monthly indications 103. This process is preferably automatic, but may alternatively be done manually.

The user may change which row 1 11 , and/or receiver 130 one or more lifecycle indicators 102 are positioned in at any time, by selecting and moving the or each lifecycle indicator 102, for example by drag and drop. The user may also remove at any time any number of lifecycle indicators 102 from the garden-visualising section 134, whether by deleting or transferring the or each lifecycle indicator 102 or the copy thereof back to the indicator storing element 101.

The annual growth chart or selection of lifecycle indicators 102 may be saved to the memory unit 140, exported to another terminal, such as a client’s or a pupil’s terminal, and/or to the app for future use. The annual growth chart or selection of lifecycle indicators may even be printed, such as onto paper and/or onto plastics, and optionally hung up on a wall for example as a poster. Whilst primarily displaying the lifecycle indicators 102 in the table, the screen element may additionally or alternatively display a 2D representation of the garden to be designed. The user may be able to position the plant species associated with a selected lifecycle indicator in the 2D representation of the garden. Such a 2D representation may be time dependent such that the 2D representation evolves to show the projected appearance of the garden at any time of the year. These features increase the ability to envision the garden throughout a year.

The screen element may also optionally provide a cost estimate, substantially in real time in the app version, for the planned garden. The cost projection may include the cost of sourcing the plants. The cost projection may also include predicted maintenance costs such as watering costs and/or the cost of landscaping such as sourcing soil or other garden components.

The processor may even have a more advanced modelling ability, for example based on historic and/or daily weather patterns, to predict and finetune predicted growth and flowering periods more accurately and/or substantially simultaneously update the lifecycle displays and/or whole garden appearance.

The plant-planning tool may even be capable of generating reminders associated with when a selected plant species needs to be planted in the year, watered, pruned, harvested, or any other suitable action taken. The plant-planning tool may also be used to monitor the growth of the plants within the garden.

The screen element in this embodiment, is substantially flat and/or has uniform thickness. However, the screen element may also be designed such that the screen element is 3D and/or is not planar. The screen element may have screen subunits which are selectably and individually raiseable or depressible relative to a baseline height, to form a 3D relief. This may be useful for instance to generate 3D images, for example of the flowers of selected species, which may be more appealing to children.

Additionally or alternatively, the screen subunits may be usable to generate braille text in substantially real-time. In a further modification, the screen subunits may form a 3D model of the garden to be designed, before and/or after the plant species are selected and positioned therein. The 3D model be time-dependent such that the 3D model evolves according to the physical characteristics such as height of the selected plants throughout the year. This would enable visually-impaired people to form a mental representation of the aspect and/or layout of the garden, or any desired landscape.

The screen subunits may be individually colourable such that the 3D model may display the plant’s projected height and flower colour during the flowering period of the year.

In a further modification, the plant-planning tool may be only partly digital. For example, the indicator holder may substantially similar to that of the first embodiment. Lifecycle indicators may be at least partly formed of plastics, cardboard, paper, metal, magnetic material, or any other suitable material or combination of materials. However, in this alternative embodiment, the first and/or second display portions and/or one or both tabs of each lifecycle indicator may be a screen such that the desired characteristic, the plant lifecycle and/or any information is digitally displayable. The information thereupon may be more easily updatable than non-digital lifecycle indicators.

It is therefore possible to provide a plant-planning tool which facilitates the designing of a garden according to flower colour, shape and flowering period, or any other desired characteristic. The plant-planning tool allows a user to rapidly arrange and easily visualise the status of the garden, in particular the colour and shape combinations at any time of the year, without requiring extensive research, plant knowledge or imagination. The plant-planning tool enables garden design to be more accessible to new gardeners, children and professional garden designers’ clients alike. It is also possible to provide a plant-planning holder device which is more customisable and cheaper. It is also possible to provide a method of planning the design of a garden without requiring extensive imagination or prior plant-knowledge. The words‘comprises/comprising’ and the words ‘having/including’ when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.lt is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub combination.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.