Planning a secret garden

[beatricequimby]

I want to turn a corner of my mangy gravel and privet hedged front garden into a 'secret garden' for the dcs.

Two sides with privet and wall,flowerbed and fence. Other two sides will be pretty trellisy fencing and gate.

I want little paths round flowers and shrubs leading to a hidden bit in the middle (more shrubs) with an arch and seat (maybe a swinging one).

So any ideas? For starters, I am looking for some fast-growing shrubs preferably evergreen with flowers and/or berries?

Have a quick look on Pinterest - there are some amazing fairy gardens on there that are just brilliant.

Avoid berries - mostly poisonous Im afraid. Also avoid fast growing unless this is a particularly big garden as it will soon become overwhelmed.

Thanks Sherbert - hadn't thought about the berries. Will look up Pinterest,

There's Sarcococca, evergreen,will grow in shade, doesn't mind what kind of soil, and flowers through the winter with a lovely smell. Not sure that it's fast growing though.

Skimmia japonica is evergreen, has flowers and I think berries.

Choiysa (Mexican Orange) evergreen, scented flowers.

Clematis "Armandii" is an evergreen climber, probably best in a sheltered spot. That flowers in the early months of the year I think?

lavender is always good and rosemary can fill out beds nicely, if you want something climbing then winter jasmine has gorgeous yellow flowers in winter, or normal jasmine or honeysuckle would smell really nice. We have a white honeysuckle but we also have a beautiful bright orange one. heathers can be nice. We have hebe bushes, they have pretty flowers, bush out nicely and come in different types so you can have variegated leaves if you want. Ceanothus has blue flowers and makes a nice bush. for some colour then dogwoods can be good all year round, bright red sticks in the winter, heucheras like shade and they are gorgeous colours, I have them in quite a few places as they provide lovely colour in the winter. Hellebores can be nice, not strong colours I don't think but they flower in the winter and seem to flower for a long time.

Thanks everyone. Am going to write down your suggestions and go for a browse in the garden centre.