Question one is What would you like to use the garden for?
For looking at, inspiring paintings as it did when we first created it 15 or so years ago, eating in, watching wildlife in, savouring the scents of, and the changes in different lights and seasons. To saturate my eyes with colour. My garden is a sensuous thing.
It's purpose is to delight all the senses.
It is at it's best late spring to late summer and I will focus on that time and look at other people's gardens for the other seasons' specialities.
Decision one.
Simple.
(If I could achieve the effect Laura described here again I'd be very happy!)