Moss. Preferably the thick dense dark green kind of moss that looks like a carpet that grows on the north side of embankments where little sun reaches. How close is your nearest state or national forest or, in the alternative, the nearest dirt road with an embankment that gets little if any sun because of shade trees. Take a drive and/or walk and see what kinds of moss you can find and take some pics. A dozen or so pieces would likely be all you need to get it started because, with the right conditions -- shade and moisture -- it spreads. (Ferns like shade but usually do better with drainage. Moss likes damp but will not grow in a puddle.) Where you have windows, you could create a "view" : With a concrete planter (or on concrete pavers set a large clay planter) with a trellis with English ivy. Alternately, you could buy your own pieces of exterior grade plywood and use deck screws to affix them to the fence posts and horizontal supports of the fence and decorate them w/paint and/or planters and/or metal sculpted art --- get creative.

First of all I would like to say it looks like your parents have brought a lovely looking home. The colouring of the outside of the house it typical for it's age. I would like to suggest that you stick with a light tone for the outside but is the Yellow / Cream isn't working then perhaps consider going for a White with a tiny tint of pale green .... this will blend in nicely with the garden, window joinery and roof but it will not be stark white. Internally I am a bit of a cream on cream kind of a person because I like to add colour through my furnishings, knick-knacks etc but I have to say I did move into a home with a mint green carpet which suits my personality but is not all together practical with pets coming and going and a lounge painted a medium to dark mint and I really love that colour. Originally the hall ways and other room where a butter / cream and just making it a off white really boosted the light and spaciousness of the home. The lounge is still the same minty green and I think I will repaint it a similar colour as it is very relaxing and "natural". So go for something that is restful inside and something clean and almost white outside. Hope that helps.

We have very similar narrow side gardens. Judging from your picture, I'm guessing that you get more sun on the left. So, close to the door you could have pots of varying sizes and similar colour with dark leaf cannas and contrasting agaves potted, which won't overtake your garden because of the pot restriction. On the shade side, I'd plant ferns at intervals with clivia inbetween. You could also put up some chicken wire on the fence and train jasmine. On the sunny side, cordyline show-off, vireya rhodos, hibiscus (beautiful varieties) and bromeliads for groundcover. Good luck and have fun.

I am wanting to get a pool put in (not too big ~7.5m x4m) - the section slopes off quite a bit and the height of the house is about a story above the ground at its highest point. Im just after some ideas for layout and how to get a good flow from the deck above - there are 2 bigger decks (covered and uncovered plus the wrap around). The covered deck which has bbq and table and chairs is above the green water tank and connects with the kitchen nicely (id quite like to hide that tank somehow), the open deck connects with the lounge area inside. Long term plan is to have a covered space with outdoor kitchen, bathroom and space for dining and lounge settings beside the pool. It has a great view of the ocean from the house ( and the section below up to meter or 2 from the fence line). there is septic tank in line with the green water tank (so don't want to get too close to that). This is in the tropics, so shade and shelter is a must - the sun follows the open deck across to the covered deck side and the house is on the west more sheltered side of the island. Any ideas would be appreciated. The last picture is of the house in front, it is very close to the fence line, but is a lot lower down.