ground cover planting season
I am a newbie gardener with a small mainly courtyard garden and raised flowerbeds. They are currently largely planted with evergreen shrubs but I am starting to introduce some flowers to make it more colourful and I am not averse to digging out some of the old timers to make room for colour 
I recall our tiny garden at home when I was growing up and have an image of lots of ground covering plants that I think included allysum, campanula and maybe forget-me-nots? I'd like something similar now but a) am not sure if these are the right ones and b) even if they are, when to plant them (and from seed or growing plant?). Any advice is most welcome.
BTW, I am very excited that the plants I have already put in, and that are still alive, are actually growing! I'm awaiting delivery of a rose and am considering a hydrangea...can't believe I even know what these plants are!!
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How about some evergreen ground cover too? Will look lovely in winter as well as summer. I just bought lots of euonymous silver stone which goes from white to green to lovely pinky shades in autumn and winter, creeps along the ground and doesn't get enormous.
If you would like something evergreen - please consider pachysandra. Although it will grow in part of deep shade, it is just as happy in sunny spots in my garden. It has little white flowers in the Spring, always looks fresh, provides plenty of offshoots, is a doddle to take cuttings from. In this bed it is planted to trail over stones and sets off Japanese anemones, grasses and fuchsias beautifully.
Thanks Lou12 & Berkley. I have a huge euonymous in a shady spot and didn't realise there were smaller ones out there! The pachysandra is interesting - is it one you grow from seed or plant? And what time of year would you do so?
You can grow all your old favourites from seed and the best time to do that is in the Spring but you can sow forget-me-nots now if you hurry. They will self seed year after year so you should only have to grow the plants yourself on this one occasion.
Look online at the seeds on offer: Suttons would be a reasonable place to start but there are many seed companies to choose from.
I bought one potted specimen several years ago ..... It grows like topsy and I am always taking cuttings or removing offshoots. Have never felt the need to sow seeds - but it may be a possibility?