A silver birch tree makes a beautiful specimen for the small to medium sized gardens.

This is the species Betula jacquemontii, one of the best white stemmed birches, glowing with reflected light from the heather garden at its feet. It is at its best all winter.

They can also make a terrific specimen in a lawn.

The common species Betula pendula may not have such a white stem but more than makes up with superior form and in winter sunlight in the wild large drifts of birch create a canopy of crimson haze.
Paintings of the Scottish landscape can be seen on this link to landscape pictures.