Follow a whole day of light
Look at the garden in the morning, at midday and in the evening. Buildings, fences and existing trees can make one corner very different from another. Note where you would actually like to sit at the time you expect to use the garden.
A photograph is useful context, but it does not measure the hours of sunlight or explain how conditions change through the year. Record what you know and leave room for what still needs observation.
Read the ground
Notice persistent puddles, places that dry quickly and changes in level. Existing plants can offer clues, but soil and drainage still need proper assessment before a final planting choice.
Avoid treating a damp corner as an automatic invitation to build a rain garden. Managing runoff and changing levels may need specialist assessment and local requirements. At this stage, identify the question rather than assume the answer.
Begin with everyday life
List the things you want to do outside: eat with friends, grow a few plants, give children a place to play or enjoy a view from the kitchen. Rank the essentials. A compact garden may need to do fewer things well.
Keep photographs, rough dimensions and a short description together. The project brief on this website turns these observations into a starting conversation, without pretending to produce a finished garden plan.
