Formal gardens can be whimsical or 'grown-up'; they can be minimalist and Zen, or verdant and busy. They may be influenced by other cultures such as those of Italy or Japan.They might include statuary and fountains or be constructed of beautiful paving, pebbles or bricks; or they may be dominated by amazing clipped plants.
         Low or high maintenance, large or small, formal gardens lend a sense of order and calm to a garden, either as a separate area of a large garden, or as a theme for the whole of a small one.