When we arrived here back in Dec 2003, there were virtually no ornamental plants at all and most of the grass was actually moss . It faces North West and the ground slopes away in this direction. Mature Beech trees and a small woods give almost total shelter from North and East winds but it's very exposed to the South Westerlies. There are several mature trees in the garden creating a lot of dappled shade. Soil is thin (about 12" max) and on the acid side of neutral but very stony and well drained. Underneath this is a gritty clay.
It's the biggest garden I've ever had and there's a lot to fill so there are few big specimens. We have all kinds of exotics but have been severely bitten by the bamboo bug and currently have over 40 (as at Dec 05) some of which are still in pots but which will be given thir heads in the ground in 2006. We started by planting a lot of Cordylines, Phormiums, Fatsias and Pseudosasa Japonica to create a quick-ish evergreen framework. Everything else fills the spaces between as and when they become available at the right price.