My back garden was the typical postage stamp that always looked sad and scruffy. Attempts were made at a rock garden (which ended up looking like a heap of rubble in the corner) and a pond in which nothing grew and even the cats wouldn't drink out of. You get the picture? Enter Floral and Hardy and within two weeks it was transformed into an elegant and spacious 'outside room'. I came upon them via an article in Homes and Gardens that was on the internet and my dream garden was very quickly realised when I was visited by Paul and Helen. She does all the flowers and designing and he organises the builders and logistics. They are a dream team. They sat with me as they went over the design I wanted, incorporating my wishes as well as their own great suggestions. Helen drew up a plan and even produced a beautiful coloured sketch of the garden (which they gave to me framed!). I was also offered a DVD of the progress of the work but didn't want this as to be honest, my garden was so sad looking I didn't want to see it! I wished I had taken them up on it now though! Soon the balding patch of lawn was gone and a team of gardeners/builders descended (complete with builders cracks!), they stripped every thing back (but cleverly managed to keep one or two beloved rose bushes and syringia that were well-loved and well- established). Then the dream garden began to take shape. Every evening I would come in from work and rush to the window to see what the 'fairies' had done that day. Beautiful York paving was laid at an angle to give the maximum feeling of space, seating and raised flower beds with integral lighting sprang up, then last of all and most magical, the planting took place, passion flowers and clematis took the place of the weeds, a 'proper' pond with overhanging shrubs replaced my feeble home made effort and elegant willow screening hid the boring fencing around the perimeter. I set it all off with a little table and chairs and also a garden swing with canopy and voila! The garden is now somewhere I want to be in every day of the year, not just summer. Incredibly there is seating for about 15 people and it is a real treat either to entertain friends or just take a cup of coffee and toast out there for breakfast, or an evening glass of wine after a hard day at work. I did however notice a little cracking around the lights where the cement had come loose but this was after about 4 years! When I told Paul he came to see and made the repairs. They also revisited after 1 year to see how it looked after all the plants were established and I had made my personal mark on it. Everyone who visits loves it - it has a real feeling of luxury and I love showing it off. I would thoroughly recommend Floral and Hardy (Floral being Helen who is a whizz at horticulture and, Hardy being Paul - and yes he is a big chap) so the names fit! I would say go for it - it was worth every penny!