If all goes as planned, I shall be moving into a new home reasonably soon. There is a nice size bed in the front of the house alongside the garage, and there is a fairly large fenced yard with nothing in it. I would like to turn the fenced yard especially into a wonderful, colourful, old fashioned garden with something happening year round. I am starting from a blank slate as it were, and I really want to do it right. I know absolutely nothing about designing a garden. I imagine I need to start with measuring it, and then trying to envision what should go into and where. I would love to have one o two ornamental trees---I particular love Japanese Maples for their colour and grace. The yard faces east, so it will receive the most light from morning until early afternoon. Once the sun starts to drop in the west in the afternoon, there will not be much in the way of direct sunlight.
So, how do I start? Are there some books you can recommend? Videos? I have admired so many beautiful gardens in my life, but I feel incompetent to create something really beautiful of my own. I want the garden to be an oasis of peace and privacy. I want to attract pollinators and birds. I would love to have a moving water feature, but I think that will have to wait until other things are done first. Where do I begin? Help!
