Northeast Gardening: Plant collector or garden designer? , 1 by Laurie1

Laurie1 wrote:
This is a very interesting thread - and I think it raises some very good questions about ones approach to gardening. I think I have discovered that I am a combination of - well designer sounds rather illustrious - but I definately design areas from a hard landscaping perspective - 2 years ago we had to rebuild a part of our barn and put in a path to improve access (sorry, this is not one of the better pictures, but it gives you the idea). Once the area was created, I had a good general idea of what I wanted it to do - then I set about 'collecting' the plants - keeping a loose eye on colour, heights, and how they went together as far as timing/colouring/light requirements. Then, I wait. Just wait and see what happens.

I'm just at the point now, the second winter, that I am beginning to move things around - and that puts me back into the designer mode, but working within a certain framework. And that framework than goes on to inform how the next area works. I find now, after 10 years of working in this garden I find there is a definate flow to it - the paths seem to be forming loose concentric circles - both for the eye and for the feet. And I seem to be building vistas in, incorporating more and more areas. It is incredibly satisfying. But I can't say all of this was designed, so much, as carried in mind. And I am not sure how different those two ideas are.
Is design something that is 'finished', or is it more part of a process - one idea leading on to another. I'm hoping the second.