Great article on bathroom plants...it's also worth thinking about them as a hanging plant from the ceiling or a small plant wall hanging flush against the wall, perhaps opposite end of bath from the shower? I love plants in bathrooms if they're looked after. It's a welcome sight of life in the morning :-) http://www.readersdigest.com.au/bathroom-plants

There's lots of great ideas for plants here, but I would strongly suggest you get answers to the following questions before you choose a plant/plants. - What direction does the wall face? - What sort of soil is there at the base of the wall? (Ask neighbours or post a photo of a spadeful of soil here which will probably let people identify the soil type) - Does water which falls on the tarmac run towards the wall or away from it? Walls cast a 'rain shadow' so if the water runs away from the wall that patch of ground is likely to be extremely dry. You would have to choose a particularly drought-resistant climber or be prepared to add extra water in some way. If you choose a plant which likes the conditions you have, it'll thrive. If you don't it will probably die and then you'll end up feeling like you're a rubbish gardener. Those Spanish Bluebells you liked are extremely tough though, and should do well wherever. ...also, if the conditions are right, I'd like to put in a word for my favourite climber, the evergreen and fast-growing Clematis armandii.

Ikea are doing some very up to date hanging planters at the moment, which look better than the old style macramé ones in my opinion. The beauty of them is that you can fill your windows on a greater scale than by just using the sills. That said I only have a little cactus pot and an orchid trough with an orchid and gardenia in it myself as I still haven't been to Ikea and only use the kitchen window due to kids' messing potential elsewhere

Hi Kanye, Here are your design challenges: 1. The decking area has a variety of colour - red brick garage, pale deck, wood fence. 2. The fence isn't straight, but slopes to different levels. 3. The area is very open, which isn't conducive to spending time in. People typically prefer to have some sense of enclosure in outside dining/seating areas. 4. The garden itself is plain lawn, sloping up to the patio area. This area has become a focal point, so needs to be both inviting and offer interest. In other words, you want to be intrigued to get from your house to this area. Design solutions: Without knowing a full brief, this is educated guesswork, but you may consider: 1. Adding a perception of depth by surrounding the sides and rear of the space with a hedge, climbers and trees. Pleached is design classic. Look at trees around your property for clues. Privet is thirsty, so you may consider hornbeam/yew hedge, clematis/ivy and repeat hornbeam pleached or fruit trees. Bring hedge/pleached trees around the front of the deck, to create an opening entrance to the deck. 2. You might consider adding a pergola over a proposed dining area. 3. Consider extending this hedging/tree pattern in the rest of the garden. Why not create an orchard area with path moving through it taking you to the deck. . Also plant beds etc... Kit