Is it a dwarf flowering gum or a big one? Many gums affect the ground beneath them, not allowing other plant competition to grow there...except azaleas, rhododendrons and other acid loving plants can do well. Another idea is to think of some native grasses, there are some excellent decorative cultivars now that are very hardy too. Some of the small lomandras could be planted in clumps of varying heights and colours, also dianella silver streak would be pretty.

@ Kat, sounds wonderful. Like a nest . My bed is in the only place it fits. In front of it is the closet to the right the window and to the left the bedroom door. The window wall is too small even for my double bed. I like it here however I can see out the window and watch the door. Not being able to see the door makes me nervous, no idea why. Being able to see out the window and get a nice breeze is good too. My former room was much larger, I had the bed between double windows facing the bedroom door. Loved that set up too.

Don't plant the giant bird of paradise in this small bed. Fantastic plants and have used them at our house. They will grow so big and destroy your paving. I have also used clumping bamboo and my wife hates it due to the mess it makes. Constantly dropping leave etc. Would not plant near a pool for this reason. Another negative comment. Bougainvillea should never be planted in the ground. Lovely flowers but get our of control, dangerous spines and almost impossible to kill. Keep in a pot and keep trimmed. We put Xanadus next to our pool at our holiday house. Perfect size and clean. Consider other ways to hid the fence. Perhaps some type of bamboo screening??

what's your climate, will you ever want to roof over the pool, are there any external doors along the back of the house that need to be excluded from the pool area, is there an external door for a quick dash to the bathroom from the patio and garden without having to go through the new fenced in pool area, are there any trees that will become a future problem for the new pool?? a rough site plan would help answer these questions