My sister wanted me to help her lay out flower beds in her yard we used a very long garden hose to lay them out in nice large curves. This give you a good visual and it is easy to make changes until you like the way it looks.

Lilyfinch- The part of the garden that is enclosed to keep the dogs out...is this closest to the house, or further out? Do you have any pictures of your garden space?

It would help if we could see your space and if there's any areas you want to screen off or emphasize...for instance, great view in the distance or being overlooked by a neighbor?

I know your garden is going to be beautiful...you have great taste!

We're redoing our yard but the old fencing was in a rectangle and what I did was made a couple of island beds and all the other beds have curved edges. I'd have made that center island bed even larger but DH does love his (awful) grass. I like grass used as paths.

The first 8 pics in this album show my front garden from east to west. It's a country garden on a large acreage owned by an old lady (me) so isn't manicured as I used to do in the city when I was younger but I do like the way the shape has evolved over the years.

Here is a link that might be useful: garden pics from last year

Yeah- I would do mine differently- more like what luckygal has done. Here's what I have:

I should have put big trees on the west, to block the hot afternoon sun, small trees on the east, so the flowers get morning sun.

I also should have put in big shrubs up against the fences and flowers in front. Finally, I love the mystery of coming around a corner and seeing more- I should have put a narrow, pinched opening into the far part of the yard to make it into two spaces.
Maybe in my next life...

Renee

Im working on downloading pics now..It is in the far back away from my house. Neighbors are close but luckily friends, so no biggie. but i did plant a row of 4 limelights to screen off the view. I apologize for the messy area, i havent cut the grass. And ive been digging and making a mess..anyway you know how gardening is! Messy! In front of the limelights i planted Grahm Thomas, and queen of sweden austins. I have room for 2 more.
Somewhere back there i need to add a couple butterfly bushes..i only have 2 and love them.

Great suggestion with the garden hose. I think ill drag out my orange electrical cord and play around.

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Eh , seeing these pics makes me realize how much work i need to do, and im a little embarrassed! But i hope i can post some nice after pics next year.

Hosenemesis, i love your garden space! Ive seen those obelisks before at lowes, last yr they had them marked down to 13dollars, and i passed it up. Still haunts me! They never got them in this yr. Anyway, i really like your garden!

Luckygal, your slideshow was like watching fireworks, each one was awesome and the next pic was better than the last! I especially loved the red white and blue combo!

My lot is rectangular. I have straight edges, but I made paths through the beds as I laid them out. I like the way it feels. The plants will be modified over time as somethings are performing better than others. The layout will pretty much remain the same.

Lilyfinch some things you may want to consider. I see chairs on the lawn do you have a patio or want one, now would be the time to think about where you would like one. Those borders you already have in could be modified with sweeping large curves which would take away the straight line. The other important thing is how much space you want to have for your dogs to romp in, if you make paths make sure they are wide for both your working in the garden and the dogs walking thru the garden. Garden magazines often have pictures and ideas that can help give you inspiration.

Please post pictures as you work on your garden.

I love seeing overall views of different yards and how the garden spaces are incorporated - this is our backyard - always a work in progress .....

Lynne

flowergardenr, the chairs get moved around depending in the view i want, we have a patio in another part of the lawn. I sorta want to have it stuffed with garden, with a grassy path, and just a couple seating areas. And youre totally right about removing that border, i hate it! My husband had me convinced it would be nice, and it is not! Its nice in a diferent setting. I was considering trying my hand at hypertufa rocks.
Also, the dogs arent aloud in the garden, except for those times the gate dosnt latch right..like yesterday! lol My bulldog is like a bulldozer in the garden. My pug is very good back there but i try to keep them both out.

Token, i love how curvy your path is. It seems you have alot of space!
Lynn you have a very nicely done layout! And i love that you have a purple martin house, id love to have space for that!

Thanks for the help guys, your keeping my mindbusy! When im done working today im going to move some things around.

Here's a few from my cousin Terry's garden. Great curves!

And a few from mine. (I take a somewhat sloppier approach.)

The main bed curves further off to the left than this picture shows. I've planted zinnias (Isabellina and Exquisite) in front of hydrangeas.

This year the sunflower patch (which is curved) includes gloriosa daisies and (I hope) lots of zinnias.

Boy, it takes nerve to show my garden next to Terry's! :-)

Alisande, is cousin Terry married? I think I'm in love.

Lynne and Token, that's what I'm talking about. What a wonderful potager, Lynne. I love those curving grassy paths.

Lilyfinch- I went back to Lowe's to buy more of those and they are all gone. Boo. See how Token and Cousin Terry have those "S" shaped curves? You could make some of those in your yard.

Renee

Sadly, Cousin Terry died following a liver transplant almost two years ago. (She had a great sense of humor, and I'm sure she appreciates your love, Renee.) :-)

I took these pictures on her birthday (in July) last year, when her gardens were on display. The garden tour was named in her honor. Some of you might like to see the rest of the pictures. I may have posted some of them here before, but I'm not sure.

My cousin Terry's garden

Terry's garden is gorgeous. I think you all have beautiful gardens, each in your own unique way.
Wait until you see the BEAUTIFUL garden the landscape architect came up with for me! I had some ideas, but she was able to put them together in a way that the hardscape works with the lay of the land and hopfully the water. The planning is not finished yet, now it's up to the engineers to get the water in some sort of control. What she drew is what I've been wanting, and I'm so pleased I found someone who "gets it". It was planned to have visual value from the highest points in the yard to the lowest. It's very exciting!

Alisande
I looked at the album and the garden is beautiful. I am so sorry you lost your cousin in such a sad way. The garden is a beautiful memorial to her.
kay

Thank you, Kay. She was beloved in the community, and many have remembered her in wonderful ways.

Wow, Terry had talent. Thank you, Alisande, for posting her garden I have added it to my favorites.
Renee