You people are great! So much input and so fast. So here's a little more info on what I'm thinking: - Privacy: We would like to have privacy in the yard. The windows are not an issue. We are in the yard a lot as soon as it's nice enough outside and practically have every meal outside. The neighbors use their yard not as much but often enough, the lady runs a day care out of her house, and they mainly use their back entrance for coming and going. Right now it's so open you bascially cannot not say Hi. And while they are nice, I'd like to have the option of ignoring them once in a while without seeming rude. :) So I guess, we don't need a castle just more view protection from their yard/walkway into our yard, especially our sitting area and my hammock. A picture of the other side of the yard from early summer so you can imagine the whole thing. On the patch of concrete in front of the hammock is now a table with 6 chairs. As you can see there's not so much sheltering us from the other neighbor either, but it's not so bad. The impression is different because of the oak tree "ceiling" and the rose bush (hard to see, it's hidden behind the tree from this perspective). And I've had some annual climbers grown on 5 ft supports. They came with the house and are not pretty but for now they'll do. Also, the neighbor is never in the yard and we rarely see him coming or going... Walkway: The first thing I wanted to get rid off was this ugly concrete path, especially since it cuts the yard in half like that. But after I figured out how much it would cost to remove the concrete and then to put down a more appealing alternative, and into how many plants/other yard structures that would convert, my plan for now is to try to develop a plan around the existing walkway, maybe add arches for depth, a focal point in the middle of the pathway, have the "rooms" go off to the side of the path, and stain the concrete a dark color. No lawn yard: I'm really in a total starting phase. I went outside and measured everything yesterday. When I get it on graphing paper and some ideas down I will run it by you guys. So far the following ideas are floating in my head: Since it would be better if the pathway could stay, my thought was to go with the geometry of the space (square) and have square four rooms that go off from the path. The patio will stay where it is. It's convenient too because of the shade from the oak tree. I would like to make the hammock area into a retreat corner. Surrounding vegetation for that should be at least chest high. For the back right side there are a few things in my head but nothing concrete yet. It has the most sun. A sitting spot with a rockgarden. Or with perennials centering around peonies. Or... On the left side the front may be kept open for a child play area maybe with sandbox. I may actually keep the lawn there or replace it with a no mow stepable groundcover. But I would want to widen the flowerbed or planting area next to the fence at least a few feet. Then something to divide the "childplay room" from the back left. I was thinking of a veggie garden there since it gets decent sun, but I'm not yet sure how much we'll be here enough during the crictical months of the summer. It may have to be a yard to be enjoyed in early and late summer. If not veggies, then I don't know yet. All this hasn't been scatched out so I have no idea if I'm trying to cram much too much into our small yard and should depart from the four room idea. Fence: It's stained from what I can tell. And it's worn off in quite a few places. I'm from Germany and I don't know what people do with the fences here in this climate. I'll find out. Re: the privacy issue so far I like the idea of supports that maybe mimmick the shape of the pickets maybe just part of the whole length. I worry that posts and wires will not look good. I will also look into tall, narrow pergolas, but I find the structures usually too "heavy" for our little yard. Or just plain ugly looking. ;) But maybe there are some out there that could fit the bill. Karin, what would you do if the pathway was to stay? I liked your thinking, I just don't think it's in the budget... Hmh... lots to think about... Thanks so much already. And keep it coming.

Not much interesting if you want small. Au contraire!! 'Small' trees are those typically considered to be 30' or less in height at maturity. And there are a good many to choose from: Acer ginnala - Amur maple Acer campstre - Hedge maple Acer griseum - paperbark maple Acer palmatum, japonicum, shirisawanum - Japanese (NOT Jap!) or Asian maples Aesculus pavia - Red buckeye Amelanchier - serviceberry Cercis - Redbud Chionanthus - Fringe tree Cornus kousa, mas or florida - Dogwoods Crataegus - hawthorn Halesia carolina - Carolina silverbell Koelreuteria paniculata - Golden Rain tree Laburnum - Golden Chain tree Lagerstroemia - Crape myrtle Various magnolia species Malus sp. - Flowering crabapples Oxydendrum - Sourwood Pyrus salicifolia 'Pendula' - weeping willowleaf pear various ornamental cherries and plums. Styrax japonica - Japanese snowbell Plus, this doesn't take into consideration any of the dwarf forms of larger growing trees, like the Ginkgo, or dwarf conifers. And the list is often larger in different areas, depending on native species present specific growing conditions or invasiveness issues.

Don't know your situation but I just bought a 20HP Ariens from Home Depot, using the $250 "bath" cupon code, had to add a cart to the deal to get the coupon, but with free shipping to my door (cross country in 7-8 days) an almost free cart and the fact that the Sears and Ariens are all made by Husqvarna in the same factory, it seems like a good deal. A zero turn will get almost into corners but for the price of the yard tractor??? Down side is that Home Depot has very little customer support for this, upside the Agri-fab brand front tractor scoop from sears (and Husqvarna) bolted right up and from calling a Husqvarna dealer who measured the rims on the rear it seems Husqvarna wheel weights are a direct bolt on option. With free shipping, at under $1400 bucks, I just don't know. I used to be a Craftsman fan BUT the quality and customer service today stinks, mostly the customer service which we used to depend on, all thing being equal I would not buy from Sears again, I only bought the scoop as it was on sale and over $100 less than the local Husqvarna dealer wanted for it. $1000 more for zero turn (trust me you will still need to trim with a mower or string trimmer) or a std lawn tractor is all up to you.

Tsuga - our Serviceberry is planted in an east facing location, with only morning sun. Wondering if yours has a more open habit? That's what I expect with mine in these conditions. How are the spring blooms and fall color for you? By any chance do you have any pictures you can share? I'd love to see a mature one in the landscape. We just planted ours earlier this year. I'd love to see pics of your Satomi as well. Milwaukeean, when I think of crabapples I think of a messy tree with lots of maintenance, maybe I'm wrong. I also think of a low branching tree, not ideal for the placement. Gardener, I'm on my second year with the heptacodium, can't wait for it to mature. My narrowed choices, though I'm leaning more towards the latter two: 1. Fringe tree - lacks four season interest, late to wake up in spring 2. Serviceberry Autumn Brilliance - seasonal interest, I have this already in my front yard 3. Kousa Dogwood - other than the flower color, what are the primary differences between white flowered and Satomi? I'm planting this next to a purple leaf sandcherry, which of these do you think would compliment it more? Kousa Dogwood - are the berries messy? I read they prefer shade, my placement would be full sun, how will it fare in this condition?