more garden gnome makeover-ing

i am so *not* a natural gardener.. but really couldn't stand these triffids any longer.
hubby and D17 were wonderfully obliging and tore out all the old overgrown plants a couple of weeks ago.

today i have planted the new garden: i was originally going to go with roses and grasses, but opted for a more easy care, realistic option:
two tahitian pohutukawa trees (which flower *red* during winter, and grow to 1 metre) and three lavenders at the back, with an absolutely gorgeous curly-grass sprinkled amongst them. there are fourteen grasses, cos that's my birthday number lol, and five big plants, for the 5 kiddos. i'm going to pick up a bit of a shell collection next time we're at the beach, cos those scallop shells look a bit stark by themselves.
oh, and this is the latest on this space:

i am going through a camellia phase, so might plant some pink flowers along the fenced wall... or a climbing rose... or perhaps i'll make something funky to hang along it: or maybe i'll mosaic around a large mirror???
yes, i am getting visions of paua pieces/shells.

i'm sure my procrastination will be over soon>>> and i will actually *do it*: i already have one olive tree (free!!) and the rest of the cute little curly grasses from the front garden.