How to add character to your garden.

After clearing 1,200 square feet off of thorny bushes for the very first garden of my own, I have learned that garden design comes in three parts:

1. The geometry of the paths and flower beds;
2. The greenery: flowers, bushes, herb and trees in the garden;
3. The fun accents: benches, flower pots, sculptures, bird baths, etc.

The first one is tied to your current landscape. The second one is dependent on your geographical location, and is a subject for a separate discussion. They both require a lot of work and maintenance and planning. The last one is what brings it all together, and makes your garden like no other.

First of all, you must identify a unifying theme and a few words to describe the feeling you'd like to achieve in your garden. Something that will guide your choices and will force a variety of objects, sculptures, and accents to work together, despite being purchased at different times and different place. In our sample garden the theme isRomance: white and elegant.

Two or three large pieces will provide a focal point: benches, chairs, tables, arches. Whatever you pick, make sure that it is comfortable (if you are actually planning to use it), and that it fits the theme.

Two white iron chairs surrounded with flowers, and a tall side table to display a pair of ceramic "lovebirds". What's more romantic?

Choose a style (glazed? tiled? peeling paint wood? mossy rock? oriental? fantasy?) and distribute at least 3-4 accents of different sizes that accommodate that style in every part of the garden. Position your accents at different height: on top of a tree stump, on the ground, hung off the tree. This will force the eye to travel from one spot to another smoothly, and will add harmony and interest to your design.

White mosaic accents sprinkled throughout the garden help to unify different parts of the garden.

If you wish to invite birds to your garden, don't forget to provide them with a place to rest. At the same time, keep in mind the theme and style you chose in the beginning. The more consistent you are with your choices, the happier you will be with the result.

Once you select accents for your garden, make them interact with the flowers. Drape a vine to climb over a chair, cover the statue with moss, plant thyme inside a watering can. If something didn't work, don't give up, instead, try moving the object to a different spot in the garden. Most importantly, continue to look at other gardens for inspiration.