A big thank you to Anna for asking and an even bigger thank you to Hester for posting.

Don't want to put any pressure on you, Hester :), but I've come to expect inspiring garden photos from you. And...you've done it again!

What an Eden you've created.

June

And I give Hester tons of credit for posting pictures from a human point of view. Sooooo many bloggers only post photos as if we are all bunnies - the photographer crouches down and takes photos through the blades of grass. It takes a brave and confident gardener to post photos of how it really looks!

Hester, it is gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Your plants look great and your garden design is out of this world!

Carol in Jacksonville

Thanks, Hester. Surely beautiful as I remember it. I guess I love all the foliage contrasts in this area. I can't stop looking! You are a master in your art.

Anna

Your garden is very beautiful, Hester. Foliage plants are my favorite, so, I too love all of the foliage contrasts.

Tina

very nice! i'm jealous! have to love the shade, do here, keep planting more tall bamboo....nice pics, nice garden....show more......m.....keeps me coming back to see what"s new!

So very neat and well kept--I'm jealous, too. I need more shade.
Marcia

Lovely! It is looking great. Lots of depth and contrast and all those good things.

Melissa

Thanks, all, for your kind words.
I agree with wanting more shade - this is the only area I have except for some small spots around the house. Which is why there is so much stuff jammed into the side yard!
And Carol, I was hoping I could urge folks to show "human" views of their yards as that's helpful for ideas. But I also love seeing photos like Mark's closeups as they have so many neat plants.
Again,thanks
Hester

Woah, I sure do love that garden! Your passion comes through so well in how everything is sited in just the right place, playing off the shapes, colors, and heights of the plants around it. Do you give lessons?!
Randy

Hester, oh I agree, I love Mark's closeups, too. It's the darn bunny-shots that drive me nuts (which are not what Mark posts). To the bloggers that post that way: we're not rabbits - no one sees your yard that way in real life. The wide shots through the monkey border grass are frustrating. Only your dog or cat sees your yard that way, LOL!

Carol

Gorgeous everything! Hester, a question: The huge croton in pictures 1 & 3... how old is it and how did you make it grow so tall and full?

Hester, your garden is lovely. I so want to see it someday. The croton in the last picture with the twisted leaves is revelution. :o)

Katkin - thanks for the name of the croton. I looked it up and it seems to be common. I don't know why everyone who sees it has never seen it before and why I can't find some to buy! Oh, well..someday.
Irma - that croton was one of the only plants worth saving when I moved here (rest of the stuff around was half dead orange crotons, schefflera - all got ripped out). So I care for it as best I can - cut a few interior stems when I think of it and have fed it. I think it should be cut back a bit now but I'm a little nervous to do it.
I love it and was lucky to find the same variety so I have some more in my planter boxes.
Randy - come on over to the west coast sometime and I'll share what I've learned over the years! Thanks for the compliment.
Hester

Hester, too bad I can't spell and GW doesn't have spell check. That croton was just released a few years ago. I have one I made into a tree. Crotons are easy to root, especially in the summer. :o)

LOVELY! You have created a lovely garden in such a small amount of time.