I took a stab at a partial garden layout below, and would really appreciate your comments, criticism, and advice. I think I’d like something around the base of the maple, one or a few low laying shrubs, and some height against the far wall on the left (perhaps a bonsai juniper, lantern, or Buddha?). This is only a thought and I’m really open to anything including a complete redesign.

Here’s a view of my acreage. You can see my neighbor’s cactus and bird of paradise across the wall. I already have bamboo and some star jasmine in the concrete planters.

Here’s area I want to plant as it currently lays.

This is my feeble attempt at a layout using Microsoft Paint. I hope you understand it.

Click here

Click here

I said in my original post I though my layout could use some height. While I love the look of a nice weeping crimson queen or red dragon, I think your idea of a taller tree works better. It would also focus the eye and help block my neighbor’s yard.

This is the east side of my house and I took the first photo above, under my other neighbor’s giant avocado tree. This entire area gets maybe 5 hours of full sunlight in the summer and 3 in the winter. In addition, I’m close to the beach so the weather is quite temperate. Thus, I think moss could grow well. I’m already planting some in the strip you see leading to the garden along with some dwarf mondo grass & stones. This will be the experiment.

What software are you using? Your layouts are absolutely terrific. I have to laugh at my attempt compared to yours, but at least I got my point across. Thanks again.

Jeff

I like that second attempt. You should add some tall bamboo, stones and a maple. And definetly a bamboo screen in the back. Your space is quite squared, so I think you should divide the 3d space into foreground, middle and background. In the foreground, some gravel, and a perhaps a low stone grouping... then comes the shoreline, some low shrubs + stones + lantern ... Some moss and ferns. Then in the middle and background a bamboo forrest with pruned black bamboo. If u got a tall maple, it should hang as a roof over the scene!

Im not as skilled as herb in drawing... perhaps u get my meaning?

And remember the balance. Not too much(bamboo, gravel, stones, moss) and not too little...

/Henrik

Not sure if an acer will take the sun scorch factor as the walls in your area will throw out quite a bit of heat. You may find a pine a better choice. Either start one as a big bonsai project or settle on pinus mugo or pinus aristata.

The software that I use by the way, is a combination of Photoshop & ACDSee, either JPEG Optimizer or JpegCompress, and often Irfanview).

Rest assured I'll keep you up to date. And, thanks to all for your continued help.