Dull and boring is different things to different people. So is extreme. Extreme to me infers being as different as possible, taking huge risks, or trying to do things that are deliberately way out - like covering an old VW body with grass seed, or trimming a hedge to look like a sofa and coffee table with cups and all. It also infers that it is intended to impress or excite the type of people who are constantly in search of instant gratification, or the next greatest super wizz toy on the market. In other words people with dulled senses who can't appreciate the ordinary things in life any more.
Sorry, but I could never be interested in extreme gardening, at least given my definition. My garden is probably dull and boring to people who see it in winter, when there is barely anything in bloom. It may also be dull or boring to people who see the way I have laid it out.
I doubt that the things that are interesting and different to me would even excite most people. A new and different seedling from my hybridising program, that only a few close friends might appreciate. A late or out of season unexpected bloom. A tiny little bloom on a species iris or bulb that has been grown from seed, and never seen before.
Basically my garden is firstly for me, and secondly for my close friends and family to enjoy. Since none of them have dulled senses yet, I will stick with what I do :-)

Water features do it for me

I understand where you're coming from G W .

My thoughts on extreme are hanging off a cliff in a harness while trying to plant something in a rock crevice, not my idea but some people would probably do it.

Everyone has their own style and likes. To me an exciting garden is finding the unexpected, whether it is an unexpected flower or garden visitor (eg snake, etc) or something else unusual around the corner. I like seeing the look on the kids faces when they see the "unexpected" whatever it is. When my garden is finished (if ever) it will have lots of hidden things, pathways, etc where you walk around a corner to find a shrub totally covered in flower or similar.

My reference to 'extreme' gardening in the previous thread was a play on words (relating to the 'extreme' sports such as hanging off a cliff). This is because my garden is simply a physical challenge due to it's rock faces (yes I have actually hung off the cliff along my driveway from a rope to weed and replant some groundcover). I put some new plants in today and one of them tumbled down the driveway (very long), bouced off a parked car and ended right way up in the neighbours front lawn. I was just trying to make a joke about my slippery slope of a garden which is a little bit of a challenge.
Maybe some didn't get it. I am the first to admit I am not a comedian.

Having cleared that up, my contribution to this thread, would have to be a loved garden. One that is obviously worked in and enjoyed. I think gardens are great windows into peoples lives. Even the most meagre garden can be interesting. It's the people behind it, to me.
cheers
Andrea

Ah! If I had read that post first, I would have known where this thread came from - seemingly out of thin air. It was a subtle segue from a previous thread!
Yes aeor (is that pronounced eeyore?)- I agree with you about a "loved garden" and mine is loved obsessivley. So perhaps I am an extreme gardener, given that I annually raise the most obscure plants from seed and nurture them on lovingly to bloom stage. I also spend hours pampering my own hybridising efforts, often to rip them out of the ground when they disappoint. I'm sure my friends worry about me at times :-)

Garden Worm, I failed to answer your question about south facing slope. This just describes my garden's orientation, being halfway down a valley, but facing south. It means we get NO sun in winter, which makes for a challenging planting oppurtunities. My staple plants are correas, dianellas, lomandra, prostanthera, westringa, myoporum, and native violet. (as you can see, I'm into aussie natives, because my garden is pretty much natural bush in a large part)
Sparaxis you do sound extreme. I'm not sure I would have the patience for that much pampering, but I am new to gardening and maybe one day I will be doing the same! aeor isn't to be pronounced, it's just some initials, and probably a pretty stupid user name.
cheers
Andrea