‘You are drawn into this circular gardening room by winding steps that tease your eye with what is to come.  The rounded and pruned box woods echo the shape while the magnolia trees create the backdrop or the walls of the room.  They have a lovely scent when they bloom in June.  You can read more about the wide variety of magnolia trees here.

Once established they have luscious flowers with a heavenly lemon scent that floats through the evening air and into your room with opened windows.  It is heavenly, absolutely heavenly.  Have you heard the term, “moonlight and magnolias?”  Le terme est l’opposé de monastique.

C‘est mon idée qui combine un banc et un fougère.

I would add ferns in urns with a bench and possible ferns growing in the ground under and around the bench drawing you in to sit a bit.

Boston fern is Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’ is an annual fern in that it dies back in the winter.

An alternative would be The Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) which continues to be evergreen even at Christmas.  Its dark green, leathery fronds persist through snow and cold, offering rare winter interest in shady woodland gardens. Native to eastern North America, it thrives in moist, well-drained soils and shaded areas, making it  resilient and low-maintenance.

Sword ferns grow more upright and are better acclimated to the outdoors than the Boston Fern though they do die back in the winter.  They are less arching and more rigid.  Though certainly taller.

Christmas Fern

Christmas ferns (Polystichum acrostichoides) are native, evergreen ferns recognized by their leathery, dark green fronds that remain upright and green through winter, even in colder climates. Unlike Boston or sword ferns, Christmas ferns do not spread aggressively, making them ideal for shaded woodland gardens or as groundcover on slopes to prevent erosion. They tolerate drier, rockier soils and are more cold-hardy, performing well in both East and Central Texas if given partial to full shade and occasional watering during prolonged dry spells. Their slower growth and clumping habit make them easy to manage in mixed native plantings.

Sword Ferns

Sword ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata) are upright, hardy ferns with narrow, pointed fronds that grow in a more vertical, less arching form than Boston ferns. They spread by underground runners and are well-suited for shaded garden beds or naturalized areas in East Texas, where humidity and rainfall support their growth. In Central Texas, they require deep shade and consistent watering to survive the heat and lower humidity. Unlike Boston ferns, sword ferns are more tolerant of outdoor conditions but still need protection from freezing temperatures.

Above is a sword fern, read more on a wide selection of ferns here.

Boston Fern

Boston ferns (Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’) are a popular fern variety known for their graceful, arching fronds and dense, cascading growth. They prefer high humidity, indirect light, and consistently moist soil, making them well-suited for hanging baskets or shaded patios. While often grown as houseplants, they can be used outdoors in humid regions like East Texas but struggle in drier, hotter areas like Central Texas without regular watering and humidity control. They are not frost-tolerant and must be protected or brought indoors during cold snaps.

You could add a sweet little ground cover under the bench (which will need a foundation) such as Dragon Lilly and some Hostas.  Deep green would be in keeping with your color scheme but a variegated hosta would brighten a dark corner.

Variegated Hosta in Texas – Hostas are a natural companion to ferns.  This is a small hosta named Mighty Mouse.  Hostas come in many sizes.  You can read more about hostas for shade gardening here.

Dragon Lily Texas Ground Cover

More about Hostas for shade perennial gardening here.

Ground cover: Strawberry Begonia

Strawberry begonia (Saxifraga stolonifera), also known as creeping saxifrage or strawberry geranium, is an attractive groundcover with scalloped leaves and red runners that resemble strawberry plants. It performs well in cool, shaded, and moist environments—but has limited success in most Texas landscapes due to heat and low humidity.  This might do very well in Aube.

Weather Condition Comparison Champagne, France to East Texas

Gardening rooms work because they provide structure, intimacy, and a sense of purpose within the landscape. Much like rooms in a house, these defined outdoor spaces create emotional and visual boundaries, guiding how people experience the garden. The use of hedges, paths, plantings, and focal points encloses the space just enough to feel private—while still allowing framed views or openings that connect to the wider landscape.

The circular gardening room with the scroll bench creates a natural inward focus, drawing attention to the bench as both a resting point and a design element. The surrounding plantings form a soft, living wall create a semi-secluded area of retreat with the sweet, fragrant magnolias in the background forming the walls.

At the same time, the design deliberately opens a view downhill—toward more gardens and the lake—offering contrast between enclosure and expanse. That glimpse beyond the circle makes the space feel connected rather than isolated. It’s both sheltered and anchored, which is why garden rooms like this feel so balanced and compelling.