So if you have a small garden area, and don't need a play surface for the kids or the dog, here's an idea to try. Run a pathway around the perimeter of the garden, and plant the central area with a flowering shrub, such as French lavender. The massed effect of a single-species planting has great impact, heightened when it's in bloom, so make sure you choose a plant which offers a long flowering season. In areas with a mild winter, French lavender has the advantage of blooming through the cool months, from winter to early spring.