first thought is to consider planting to suit the conditions and your time and interest in gardening and can you post a rough site plan showing the courtyard as well as the house (pool, doors to inside and surrounding gardens and please describe your local climate

The soil is limestone based and drains freely. Don’t have a site plan but the courtyard is small. Two French doors leading from house to outside. Covered by large timber patio. Gets plenty of filtered light. The upper terraced area (where the dog is) cannot be altered as there is a sewerage line. Things grow fairly well but it could be amazing if only I knew what to do! 🙁

depending on your climate ask the local nursery for suitable climbers to cover the rest of the fences, improve the soil in the garden beds and plant bigger dark strappy plants and groundcovers to fill the garden beds eg dark green liriope, lomandra, aspidistras, ajuga or similar and consider a narrow garden bed and/ór fence along the upper lawn as a safety barrier (extend the block work taller and cover with compact evergreen climbers?) and there's already enough colour in table setting, walls and paving so swop all the terra cotta pots for bigger black or dark green grouped together under the window and invest in several big tree ferns or palms in the garden beds and hanging pots of trailing ferns and move the dracena

Azaleas, Rhododendron, Lilac

I think you've got lots of nice elements there, its a question of pulling it together in a better composition. Start with what you have and then see what you need. I think it might just be a question of more planting. I'd like to cluster the pots into a nice arrangement, like they are a sculpture. I particularly use succulents as sculptural elements rather than as plantings... getting a nice shape is important. At the moment I use pots to raise up younger trees and create height, and to break up the edge of the bed and let the garden spill over onto the paving. I think purchasing some feature plants that add colour and vibrancy would help. And I'd include something planted above the retaining wall that spills over and hides the bricks a bit. Some prostrate grevilleas could be nice as they'd spill over and attract birds. Westringia or rosemary hedged at the back of the beds might be nice. Some bulkier taller foliage plants could be nice in the beds too. Maybe some lillypillies for some green. Some feature bulbs that flower at different times of the year like agapantnus and daylilies could be nice. It's a small area so you really only need a few plants repeated across the beds for impact. Don't be afraid to keep it simple and repetitive.

I'd cluster all the agaves into tall black pots and let them overfill it and spill out a bit. I'd arrange them with the pandanus sort of thing ('m not sure what thats called). I'd move your mother in laws tongue into the round terracotta pots, and maybe even put the smaller one of the table for a feature. I keep all my succulents together for that impact. Then the beds can be filled with rows of a low foliage plants, strappy leafed plants for height and occasional flowers like lillies and agapanthus. Plant something at the top of the wall and let it spill over, even if its just something cheap and cheerful like nasturtiums which I like to throw in salads.

And yes, maybe take the pots away round the corner and see how it looks? Leave the green water feature pot though. I heard some good advice on gardening australia, that its either the pot that's the feature or the plant, maybe that would help?

Fabulous area, use structural plants as oklouise suggested, pick a few plants that you love and mass plant for maximum effect, adding black highlights to your outdoor furnishings could look very stylish.

as usual Julie has found perfect photos to highlight her ideas

Thanks Julie! I love that. Not sure what you mean with black highlights?

I would paint your corrugated light fence and the trellis , black to match the one on the right . Perhaps trim the dead looking vine stems . I would also remove the terracotta pots .

Ooo I never thought to paint the limestone blocks! Yes I think I will paint the terracotta pots black and keep a few of the larger ones

I would work with your cushions, add black accessories for your table, lanterns, paint your pots black, agree painting fence black, black adds a wow factor , an outdoor mat would look fabulous similar to my first suggestion , you could really glam it up, you may not want to go inside.

Loving that!

Julie where do you find these fabulous photos?

Hi Jenny,

Have you thought about cleaning up that fence with the flowing vines? You could make that really beautiful by making it a vertical or trellis garden.

Here are some ideas for you to consider:

https://vistaconcepts.com.au/gallery/

Good luck!

Julie Herbert, really knows how to achieve the wow factor, love everything she posts.