Id have Raised planter boxes put in around the outside of our yard so my mother in-law doesn't have to spend hours on the ground with a bad back to do the gardening!..

fill the roundabout with mass plantings. As the view on approach is focused on that fountain, height would only hide it, however it is important on a large scale to play on dimensions of height aswell as depth. So I would plant out the rear of the fountain with a semi circular arrangement of tall plantings, perhaps even trees. Something with delicate foliage like that of a birch grove, so light and perspective can still be seen through them. In from of that a dense planting of hostas wi plenty of foliage variations, height and colour. I would add another urn and topiaried buxus on your garage wall in between each door to match the one visible next to your porch. Repetition and symmetry is an important design element in formal gardens. I would consider balancing the structure with the garden, as it is sparse, and landscaping with much open space will be difficult to achieve a dramatic effect without it. I would have a builder quote to construct a post and beam addition to the front of the garage, bringing out substantial timber rafters out from the wall about a meter, with heavy posts, perhaps even pillars, this would be ideal to paint In a white trim, reminiscent of country estate homes, and provide a gorgeous arbor to plant a white hanging wisteria for example. Draping white blooms from this in spring and summer would look divine, and lighting would further enhance both the fountain garden and the new arbor. Good luck.

Check out www.clearpond.com.au Natural swimming pools need maitenance just like chlorinated ones. Just like chlorinated pools, once the balance is OK they are healthier than chlorine, especially for those with ear or skin issues. Its like swimming in a healthy river. Natural swim ponds incorporate biological filtration which is a natural process and Ultra Violet units for clarification and sterilisation.

A true ecosystem pond should be at the lowest point. You wouldn't put a pond in if there wasn't the correct spot for it. You would then look at alternative, natural ways of addressing the site with indigenous plants. Ecology is about keeping the whole biodiverse integrity of a site intact - paving etc is completely out. If your garden isnt in a tropical area, then your ideas won't work with the natural ecology of the site. You can have a rainforest garden, but it wont be an ecological one. I'm being pedantic about word usage, sorry. So many people refer to sustainable and ecological approaches and get it entirely wrong. Call me a pedant if you wish.