Looking at bare dirt now with some decent shrubs surrounding the periphery for privacy.
I have zero experience with landscaping, but I would like to experiment with it. If it does not turn out great, it will be a learning experience and a chance to try something else. I want to keep things quite simple and cheap to start!
I am not going to put in a lawn (not on your life), but am interested in ideas/plans/guides for setting up some type of small Japanese/Zen rock garden with perhaps a little bonzai and/or a little fountain/waterfall. I am not going to do a koi pond now, but may in the future.
Does anyone have experience with these types of landscapes? I suppose I could just buy some small pebbles, a rake and a bonzai, but how do you contain the pebbles so they don't disperse and get everywhere? I am not big on digging a basin and lining with cement.
What about those little fountains/waterfalls I see at various places? Some of the cheaper ones have loud motors, which would drive me nuts. I just want to hear a little, relaxing trickle of water, not a motor. (I have freakishly sensitive hearing--my ENT of 40 years in teh business said the best ever!) How much does one need to spend to get a durable little fountain that can be easily switched on and off?
Thanks for any ideas.