A picture of the area would help.

If you know how to Google and capture an aerial photo of your house and post it here even better. (don't post the link, you may reveal your exact address).

dcarch

Alas the Google Earth image of my area isn't very good

Try Mapquest.

dcarch

No satellite stuff outside US by the look of it

1. Where are you located?
2. Is shading caused by tall trees?
dcarch

In UK, near London.
The shading is caused by a 6ft fence running roughly east to west. The flower bed faces north and is only a foot or so deep, so the sun is never quite high enough.
There is a north/south fence running at right angles to it so I could reflect light off that in the afternoon but doing it tastefully wouldn't be easy.

Ah! UK, where the sun never shines! [only kidding :-) ]

Again, a picture will be helpful.

RE: fence:
Who owns the fence? You can replace the fence material with UV resistant transluscent panels which can be made very nice looking.

dcarch

Sun rarely shines but sizzles when it does. Hope the picture thing works

Here is a link that might be useful:

Very nice garden.
The angle of the sun is very low.
1. Best thing is to have transluscent panels in the fence. You will still have complete privacy.

2. Mirrors should be considered. You do not see mirrors. You mostly see reflections in a mirror.

3. Paint the fence white. Of course this will changed the look.

4. Matt aluminmum reflective materials can be used. If they are angled carefully, they are not too obvious.

5. Metal Halide light fixtures (400 watts or more) with a highly focusing reflector in the area you need light to suppliment natural light.

6. Finally, carefully select shade tolerant plants.

dcarch

Thanks for the advice.

>The angle of the sun is very low.

That was taken yesterday when the sun came out for 10 minutes. In summer it almost catches the bed, but not quite.

>1. Best thing is to have transluscent panels in the fence. >You will still have complete privacy.

The fence belongs to our neighbours, who only put it up to protect us from their activities (they're a commercial outfit)

>2. Mirrors should be considered. You do not see mirrors. >You mostly see reflections in a mirror.

That's intresting. Not as intrusive as I thought maybe. Heavy though

>3. Paint the fence white. Of course this will changed the >look.

That would be well out of keeping with other houses in the road. Fine in the Mediterranean. Not so good for a windswept island in the North Sea!

>4. Matt aluminmum reflective materials can be used. If they >are angled carefully, they are not too obvious.

I was wondering yesterday how a line of cds might look slotted into that trellis at the back. Fixing them and making them adjustable might be a problem.

So where are you? Probably swinging in a hammock in Florida :-)

Manay possible designs.
Good luck
dcarch

{{gwi:1018690}}

Neat work with the photo editing!. Thanks for the suggestions