A Study in Contrasts

I went over to my friend Andrea's on a pleasant winter afternoon. Her garden is of course dormant and yet it still felt as it does in summer: organic, full, relaxed. 

It's mature, so there is tree structure even in winter. But even with little to see, I was struck by how opposite our two gardens are. 

Hers is mature, mine still developing. I like my garden as it develops. I like hers too. But how opposite they are, in all seasons, in all design elements.

That lollipop privet by the blue garage door is gone now

Hers is a square dominated by plants winding around a bit of stonework patio and soft decomposed granite paths. Pots and decorative rocks are scattered about.

Her beautifully jumbled garden

Mine is a straight narrow strip of flagstone, wood deck, and chunky pea gravel, all dominating neatly placed plants that border it.

Her focus is a riot of plants with open areas tucked in, my focus is open hardscape with planted areas around the structures.

My long narrow view

There are other subtler contrasts. Her patio furniture has olive green and tan cushions that blend into the landscape. I have bright accents -- red chairs, white cushions and lots of turquoise, all saturated hues. 

Structure and color in my garden

She has lots of pots grouped seemingly haphazardly. I have specimen containers placed in specific spots.

Even though she has a view of field and hills out beyond her back fence, her garden feels more enclosed. Mine is walled in all around with no far view, yet seems more open, with stone patio on two levels and flat elevated deck. 

Open seating, wood and stone, bright color accents

I always come back from visiting her with a critical eye for what I could do in my garden. I like my greater structure, brighter pops of color and specific plant placements. But I like her more relaxed vibe, greater sense of envelopment and looser jumble of plants and paths. 

She says she does the same thing after visiting me, wanting to edit her own garden for more structure and tidiness.

Is there a middle ground incorporating some of each contrasting style? Or is each garden so definitely its own look and feel, and we should both embrace what makes our two gardens feel so different?