When I first bought my home back in 1994, my yards were devoid of life. The ground with hard, dry dirt over pebble infused clay. What grass there was was whispy--like the remaining hairs upon my head. It was essentially a blank canvas, and I took to it little by little.
In the back I established a circular pathway around a central bed. Years of adding soil and clay busters and mulch with lots of variations of annuals and perennials. At first the space was sunny. Then as the trees I planted were joined by various volunteers planted by birds and squirrels (I have a couple of really beautiful Scarlet Oaks), it has morphed into mostly shade. The transformation also affected what would and wouldn't grow and what would thrive.
About a decade ago I did a major overhaul and added some additional raised circular beds and rechristened it "The Circles" garden. Then last June I had major back surgery. As a result the whole thing--all my yards--were let to go fallow. The aggressive invader, English Ivy, took full advantage of my physical recuperation to enter and dominate. It was all too happy to bring along, volunteer wisteria, Fox grapes, and porcelain-berry, and worst of all, honeysuckle! At least with the others, when you pull at a tendril, it usually pulls up intact. Honeysuckle loves to snap off. It's insidious.

BEFORE I LIFTED A TROWEL... Like discovering a lost civilization in the jungle!
Yet...
"Though an old man, I am but a young gardener."
~ Thomas Jefferson, 20 AUG 1811
Secure in the wisdom of Jefferson, and without urgency, I am called back to my garden again with budding results.
DAY ONE
Rediscovering the brick pathway I laid in by hand 30 plus years ago. I got about 75% of the way before the ground hornets became too curious. I went out and bought some plants--great time of the year to find things on sale!
DAY TWO
Hornets pacified and off terrorizing some place else, I liberated the rest of the pathway. Pulled the invasive vines from the Circles Garden, and planted the 18 begonias (a start)
One for the most personally satisfying features is the Rock Garden. Most of the stones are sedimentary field stones from Kentucky laced with Carboniferous Period fossils and some even had Geods. There is also some white quarts, and some beautiful dark gray-blue stones of unidentified origins.
Another nearby project is this trio of planters: A couple exotic begonia that I bought a month ago and a pair of Bird-of-Paradise I got for 50% off.
DAY THREE
Back with five more ginormous Begonia, a couple of Canna Lilies, a packet of white impatiens and 4 of these interesting vines Sweet Caroline Green. I know sweet Caroline, but I've never seen them with leaves this frilly--like Palm fronds. Finally a Pink Rio (Dipladenia). You can see the bush-like red begonias!
In previous years, I've used Vinca to great affect; however, with the increased temperatures and more to the point, rainfall; Vinca is so susceptible to mold. Impatiens and Choleas from India are other possibilities, but they both have been decimated by slugs in past years. I grow both in pots successfully on my deck where I can control the presence of slugs.
I added the Dipladenia to the middle container, because it will climb up the metal obelisk.
Can you see how Palm-like the foliage of this varient of Sweet Caroline is?