I'm in a constant battle... and it really is a battle.

WHIMSY~"Right Brain" ~ I have strong eye appeal to whimsy. Strong admiration for those who can accomplish it and sustain a whimsical garden. I can pour for hours through magazines of country cottages, garden art, homemade creations. I think a successful whimsical garden, a garden that draws you in a tickles you with every turn must be dynamic and kinetic. It must be changing constantly. The sort of person who is constantly rearranging furniture, buying and selling "stuff" all of which will eventually be sold at a garage sale or given away to make room for the newer stuff, will create a successful garden filled with whimsy. After awhile I find it confusing and hard to manage mentally. Personally I don't particularly like to go to a lot of garage sales or thrift places... time and money for what I know will be temporary.

TRADITIONAL~"Left Brain" ~ My strong logical self likes some order. Absolutely organic and environmentally friendly, easy to maintain. If something needs tending or TLC I can easily spot it. I want to be able to maintain my garden myself so I tend to keep it clean, slightly off balance. Everything sort of has a place of importance and serves a purpose. I love Zen, French, English, ordered parks like Golden Gate Park. I like strong hardscape but not a lot of it. For my purposes, a traditional garden takes less time and money to maintain and can still be inspiring with just a few touches of whimsy.

I really have to watch myself with buying whimsy, planting whimsy. I know visually it satisfies me but it's truly like "eye candy". The punch is gone too soon for me.

I'd post some pics but they're all in my other computer. Haven't transferred them over just yet.

Susie- I think you exactly captured the inward struggle that I have.

My house is like this too. I have a Red room that is full of unexpected items tucked here and there. Other rooms are more traditional and expected. At least inside, I can confine things to rooms, then I have logic and order!

Yes...garden rooms.Maybe that's my answer!

Ooooooh! Garden Rooms! I like that... I think that's sort of the way I'm transitioning, too. Then you can focus, put and take or relocate. I do best with the simple look of an entire area than I do with a vignette. We'll see. It's got to cool off before I do anything in the garden, however.

Isn't that the truth. Meanwhile, I'll just dream...

Things often work out better in my thoughts anyway

Must be whimsy here, traditional takes to much work.