What about Bird of Paradise. Mass planted. They will grow snout 4-5 feet tall itch the flower spikes standing above that. They are as tuff as nails, love tropical conditions. Have an Asian contemporary feel about them. Are very sculptural. Interesting foliage and amazing flowers. You can plant Xanadu philodendrons between that will act like a sub layer and fill in the gaps with their own interesting leaf formations. On that front corner where your stack stone and letterbox are I would keep it low and simple for the posties access. Mini variegated lomandra as that will highlight the darkness of the wall. Try to get in as much good soil as you can before you plant as it looks like it's clay, if so dig in some gypsum. Great soil equals happy plant.

Be aware that artificial turf can get very hot underfoot. You could lay a narrow old brick or limestone paver path to clothes line for easy access and plant ground covers or low profile herbs (eg.oregano and thyme) to use in cooking. Hardy herbs or flowers such as rosemary, lavender, geraniums against the edges of the space toward the back. Even add some large long troughs of flowers on the retaining wall to pretty up the area. It looks like it could get quite warm there but maybe a jasmine or similar climber to climb up a frame attached to the part of the large wall where there is no clothes line. Good luck, it will be a lovely space I'm sure once you get started.

Where is north in this photo? It looks to me as though the area in question is fairly shaded so a lot of the above options wont work if the area is on the southern side of the home, especially because of the winter shade. The space gets afternoon sun - in summer or winter? There are shadows from trees - are these deciduous or evergreen? Clay can vary enormously from being plasticine like to clay with rocks or stones in it. This will have an enormous bearing on the plants that you can use, precluding plants like westringias that require very good drainage. A plant that is as tough as old boots that will grow in both sun and shade [with some sunlight during the day] is Buxus microphylla var japonica varieties, while Aucuba japonica [Gold dust plant] or even some of the native lomandra grasses would work well. The first two can be grown as a hedge with the latter choosing a variety that you like [ there are so many], but have the plants all the same - don't mix them up. These will all grow in some shade, will grow in clay as well if it isn't too poorly drained. It does appear as though the area is sloping ever so slightly away from the house which is good. But I would steer clear of paving - unless its needed for access etc, it will look patchy and pointless - use plants instead to make your picture - its far more sustainable. Alison

I'd go for something hardy like lillipillies along the pool - provided that you don't mind losing sun in either the morning or afternoon depending on which way the side faces. If you want to keep the pool nice and warm go for something a bit lower like a mix of tropical plants like ginger, small palms and bougainvillea which will add lovely colour. I'd caution against bamboo as they drop quite a bit of leaf litter and are very water hungry. As for the shady areas not sure but perhaps some pretty river pebbles as 'mulch' interspersed with a few shade-loving tropical plants like you see at hotels. But not too many plants as this will make the area darker.