Ok, fair enough.
What about detailing the path a bit more, I feel like the random gravel/stone slabs are a bit too far appart from each other.
Also bear in mind we build within the context of a town, thus the garden seems a bit too wild. I would recomend you implement more structures into your park builds (statues, fountains, walls, stone around bodies of water etc.). We recently finished a park on the east side of DV by the monastery, wich we sadly will need to partially remove to make way for the Capital City wall. You might want to go check that park out, to get some inspiration/ideas.
There are builders who define the following 3 pillars of a good build:
1. Style
2. Atmosphere
3. Purpose
1. By style they refer to the conection there has to be between the different parts of the build. You can't have a nordic house with a pointy roof next to a mediterranean looking villa next to a wooden shack and call it a town. There has to be a point of conection. In Drakenvale, since there are a lot of skilled builders working on exterior arquitecture it is dificult to keep a very defined style, but Drakenvale's theme is medieval - gothic for the builds and renaissance-ish for the harbor and ships.
Of course when talking about nature it is difficult to define a style, that's why I recomend you implement more builds into the park. That way just by using some of the same concept builds in another park you achieve the same style. The lamps could help you with that, instead of just torches on fences what about streetlamps? the easiest desig for those are 3 or 4 fenceblocks with a glowstone block up top surrounded by trapdoors and a halfslab on it, but there are a lot more designs you can come up with. Also the waterfall concept is a win. It needs some more detail to it though.
2. Atmosphere Is very thricky. You can spend hours on a build and fail to achieve the correct atmosphere. Nature builds are very atmospheric. they allow you to block the surrounding sights with greenery, and the water does a lot.
You should maybe customize your trees a bit more, and as I said, a wall around the garden and more greenery could just do the trick. The terrain elevations at the side were a good call, they add a lot. Also, since the Server started using a version of Conquest Resource Pack I have been using that one for the town builds. A good resource pack like conquest helps a lot with atmosphere. Just keep in mind not everyone uses it and don't go crazy with custom blocks.
3. Purpose is a very interesting concept. It rests upon the basis that a minecraft build should make sense, even though minecraft mechanics do not demand such things. For exampe, if you build a mine, you could just have ladders going straight down into the gound, but if you think about it, how the hell would the miners get the heavy stone and ores out? You need to build a lift. The lift of course is just for show and is unusable but it is purpose. There is a lift in DV that is kind of pointless since it goes only like 5 blocks up and you can just follow a road to get up anyways, but it looks like a lift, and that is purpose. You could have just placed 2 signs, but making it look like it would actually work gives it a lot of architectural value.
Please do not view this as an atack on your build or anything. Bear in mind that if I take the time to write all that it's because I believe it is worth it to give you the tips necessary for you to improve.
I believe there are plans to undergo a big garden build righ in the middle of the town. If you want to be a part of it get back to me with some modifications on that garden or do a new one taking into consideration what I wrote up there. Also feel free to use conquest resource pack.
As for a tip on gardens, just follow your gut. Imagine yourself in the garden, would you sit there and read a book for a few hours? Or is it too dark, is there not enough privacy or whatever other things you would dislike in a real one?
