Elements I Like

Some random pictures of what I'd like my garden to look like: 

Elements: Lovely combination. Mounding forms are not busy, there's space
in between and some slightly taller plants behind. Blue fescue grass among
bright flowers is a nice contrast. Saturated purple penstemon + bright
blue flax punch up the softer colors and greenery.

Elements: Long narrow stone path leading toward stucco wall and gate
(our configuration), flanked on either side by curved, mounded, lush garden areas.
Good use of enclosed space with a wall on the left and a low wall at the end.

Elements: A different way to do our deck and stone patio.
Bring flagstones under and around deck overhang, then
curving out to circular sitting area surrounded by plants.

Elements: An extended overhang sloped roof over the deck for shade.
Clear, open serpentine gravel path leads to hidden destination.
Plants border the deck edge and the other side of the path.

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As a comparison, here is my own deck over gravel and flagstones:

Comparison: the path leading around behind the deck
is not as defined, and there is no sloped roof over.
But elements are similar to above deck photo.

Elements: Large mossy stone, curved narrow gravel path, weighty shrubs,
solid conifer, open perennials. Quiet composition.

Elements: More rustic than typical circulating bubblers set in a tumble of rocks.
Simpler, cleaner, just a fence post and bowl, set above ground. 

Elements: Upright spiky plants in a raised mound that slopes down to the
gravel path. Lower edge grows out into the gravel a bit. Soft natural look.

Elements: This is what I had wanted -- looser jumbled moss rock border edging a
curved gravel path, & fronting a raised mound of plants spilling down and over.

Elements: A wild look in a small space, jumbled plants with paths that circle.
Flagstones with creeping ground covers, mound in the middle

Elements: Massed plants with paths and stones, fenced in. Tamed wildness.
Elevation from different layers of plants. Same garden as above.

Elements: A soft jumble of plants growing together, a small disappearing path,
all in a tiny space about the size and narrow length of ours. (A view helps.)

Elements: The same garden as above, in winter. Lots of structure still shows the
soft jumble of things and how small and tightly together all are. That view!

Elements: Irregular stone path and use of groundcovers tucked in and around
and under upright plants creates a loose, casual look.

Elements: Creeping thyme spilling over and down a slight rise,
rather than as a flat space filler. Accent plant for foliage contrast.

Elements: Same garden as above. It's tiny but the path bends and disappears.
The hint of a simple gate is partly hidden for intrigue.

Elements: Openness of the arching branches creates dappled shade below.
Narrow flagstone path wanders a bit but is bounded by house and wall
with a few low plants tucked in along its edges.

Elements: Straight low lines tempered by bushy forms. No height or enclosure, 
but the open unobstructed sky frames the garden.

Elements: Slight mound in the middle of wandering
paths, inside a fenced area. Small, intimate,
but loose and casual. Serene, nothing flowery.

Elements: More casual scatter of irises than a stiff stand.
Different sized rocks placed randomly around them.
Plants popping up in the gravel in naturalistic way.

Elements: Same shot as above, different angle. Variation on the circle
and bench I have around a bowl, but looser, more informal, and
with greenery and form behind the bench leading the eye beyond.

Elements: The spill effect. Simple plants I have -- yarrow, pineleaf penstemon,
close together and spilling down over a large rock. A loose, natural look.

Elements: Another example of spilling into a path. 
Grasses add height, rocks are tucked in among plants
and vary sizes, not lined up as a border.