A little progress on my project:
Seen from the back porch.
Seen from the gate into the backyard from the front.
Calling this new oval the Butterfly Bed and intend to plant a buddleia there, for one thing. Every thing I do, I start seeing the next steps, which is really nice! but keeps me huffing and puffing. Figuratively speaking.
One step after this is some kind of paved (not poured but using pavers of some kind) walking section between the bfly bed and the gardenia, that fans out in arcs on either side into the lawn. The area just beyond the bfly bed, at its other end, is a very sweet spot that could happily hold a small cafe table and a couple of chairs. Or some kind of seating.
I am also seeing how I want to screen and section off my work area, I think.
Having fun!