Is this too crowded?

That is VERY PRETTY - thank you

!! It looks a little crowded, BUT it's not as obvious to me and I think it works as the colors are subtle and transition well. Also, I think it works because there aren't too many colors competing. Do you recommend just using a small variety of plants?

I love this concept with groupings and helping the garden look lush, plus the less weeding and mulching. Thank you!

Not sure what you mean by "uncrowded". Do you want space between plants? That space will have to be covered with something. (Bare earth is an open invitation to weeds; it doesn't stay bare for long.) You can cover it with something non-living (gravel, river rocks, boulders), something that was living but isn't anymore (straw, mulch), or living plants (ground covers, more of the featured plants). This photo illustrates all three: gravel for the path, mulch on the left, ground cover on the right.

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Or is it not space between plants that you want, but a limited plant palette, used in a clean, minimalist way, as @floral_uk suggested?

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My friend and I were talking about this the other day. She says she doesn’t want her plants to touch each other.

I admire that look but can’t achieve it myself. I buy too many plants and then they grow and get big and then need divided and then my beds are packed full!

P.S. don’t plant in rows.

I do not admire that look. To me it isn't a garden if the plants don’t touch. It’s just a plant display. To me it’s like seeing a potentially delicious meal set out as a collection of ingredients. Personal opinion, obviously.

When I suggested limiting the number of varieties and repeating I did not intend to imply minimalist. Just to avoid a hotch potch.

Didn't mean to imply you liked minimalist, @floral_uk. Just searching for what @Carli means by "uncrowded". An example of what she actually has in mind would be really helpful!

Yes, I think you all nailed it - Doug with his amazingly beautiful picture, @floral_uk with her definition of what I was searching for (groupings), littlebug for reinforcing the concept of no rows, and simplynatural for putting it into words: a limited plant palette, used in a clean, minimalist way.