Our garden is never going to be a model for paradise, but just somewhere pleasant to relax. Both my wife and I enjoy gardening or sitting reading or writing and watching birds, butterflies and wildlife.
There are many aspects of gardening that I find interesting but overall I’m very much in favour of letting things evolve and watching the garden develop. I’d be concerned if I ever thought it was going to be finished.
While we like testing things, seeing what works and what doesn’t, we also know that for the most part, plants will right themselves. They might need a little help from time to time.
I’ve seen the idea of “mix and match” in gardens lectured against, but really you should do what suits you. I’m very much into the practicalities, take a “cheap and cheerful” approach whenever it’s merited although there are some false economies as I’ve sometimes learned. Most of all, I always take the view that my current plan for the garden might change and to me, that’s good.