1. To find the total area of the garden, we can split it up into smaller shapes that are easier to calculate. The garden can be split into a rectangle (3ft x 6ft), a square (5ft x 5ft), and a trapezoid with bases of 3ft and 5ft and a height of 3ft.
2. To find the area of the rectangle, we multiply the length by the width: 3ft x 6ft = 18 square feet.
To find the area of the square, we multiply the length by the width: 5ft x 5ft = 25 square feet.
To find the area of the trapezoid, we use the formula for the area of a trapezoid: (1/2) x (base1 + base2) x height. Plugging in the values, we get: (1/2) x (3ft + 5ft) x 3ft = (1/2) x 8ft x 3ft = 12 square feet.
Adding up the areas of the rectangle, square, and trapezoid gives us the total area of the garden: 18 square feet + 25 square feet + 12 square feet = 55 square feet.