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All properties have corners and nooks that are sometimes neglected, yet all have potential to become appealing places to relax, dine, read, practise yoga or simply sit and observe nature. They may be enclosed by boundary walls, fences, hedges, tall shrubs or trellises.
A secluded corner
The simplest of all structures built for pleasure is the arbour, a more modern version of the old-fashioned herber, the original name for a shady structure of greenery trained over a framework to form a small shelter in a corner of a garden. To avoid being overlooked by neighbours, grow trees with slender trunks to create a leafy overhead canopy.
Dining al fresco
Re-think the placement of your outdoor dining area, and instead of following tradition and positioning this near the house, what could be nicer than to walk down a pathway edged with flowers to a walled corner of the garden? Paint walls and hang outdoor art to complement the patio furniture and cushions. Add lanterns or fairy lights for dining outdoors at night.
A cosy corner
Complete the triangle made by adjacent walls or fences with a simple lattice bench, or make this an all-weather corner by enclosing the triangle with walls, windows, double doors and a roof.
Plant sweet tobacco (Nicotiana alata) where you can enjoy its scent towards evening. Picture: Lukas Otto
A scented corner
In a corner of the garden where scents linger, grow alyssum that has a delicate honey scent, fragrant roses, heliotrope and dianthus. Sometimes flowers are insignificant but have a strong fragrance, like the tiny sprays of white flowers of Osmanthus fragrans. Sitting outdoors on summer evenings can be even more enjoyable when lilies and Nicotiana alata scent the air.
A nature corner
Consider turning a corner of your garden into a pollinator’s delight that will encourage visits from bees and butterflies attracted to nectar-filled flowers. Choose single flowers rather than those with double or in-curving petals that are not easy for bees to gain access.
Butterflies are attracted to brightly coloured flowers and often these are large, providing a landing area. Bees and butterflies also need water, so include a birdbath with a shallow basin.
A sun trap
A small tree in a sheltered corner that sheds its leaves in autumn becomes a sun trap in winter, while in summer its leafy canopy provides welcome filtered shade. In early spring, when the days are sunny but there is a sneaky wind, a garden bench in a sheltered corner is perfect for soaking up sunshine.
A corner of a house becomes a place for sun-loving Mediterranean scented herbs, lavender, rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano and santolina.
A romantic corner
A quiet corner in your garden can be turned into a romantic hideaway with a bench-for-two surrounded by fragrant roses.
Plant hosta in a shady corner. Picture: Supplied
A shady nook
A shaded corner beneath a tree can become a restful, cool retreat with filtered shade providing the best growing conditions for shade-loving plants. If the shade is too dense, let more light in by thinning out or removing some lower tree branches.
If tree roots are a problem, grow in containers.
Foliage plants, hydrangeas, hostas, heucheras, streptocarpus, hellebores and ferns are favourite plants for shade gardens, providing they are given rich, moist soil and regular watering.
A built-in bench provides a sunny spot for reading. Picture: Kay Montgomery
A reading nook
When it is neither too hot nor too cold outdoors, enjoy relaxing and reading in a tucked away garden nook. Make sure you have a comfortable chair and waterproof fabric cushions. A tripod that serves as a side table would be useful and decorative if filled with potted plants.
A resting nook
Unlike urban or townhouse properties, where walls are a means of separating neighbours, gardens in retirement complexes and estates often have no hard boundaries. Small roofed wooden structures were a part of the English countryside and known as "wayside pulpits", where weary travellers could rest awhile. Tuck a similar structure between shrubs in your garden and you have a quiet place to sit.
Wooden poles and lattice support the sloping roof of old pantiles, sometimes available from demolishers of old buildings. The seat can serve a two-fold purpose if it has a storage area built in for your garden tools and cushions.