What do you want to use it for? In other words, what is your goal in changing what's there now? Strictly decorative plantings? Shade? A hobby garden? Bird habitat?

Go through some of the other threads on this forum. Try a search for "blank Slate" "how to start" "front landscaping". You'll see reams of discussion on what things to consider and how to get some direction when starting from scratch. Also tips on what information to give to get the best responses on the forum.

If this were my property and...if the land was the typical NC dense clay and...if a civil/soils engineer said it was possible and...if the local government allowed it...I would dig out the area, divert the stream and have me a nice old bass pond. Not possible? I will post a few ideas as time allows.

Hi, it depends on what you want to do with it. I suspect the area is a flood plain and this could alter your plans. The element of water could be used to great benefit. Screening from the road is a must. Sherman C. Runions and Associates Landscape Architects Sapphire Valley, North Carolina

You certainly have enough space for plant areas, play areas, pretty much anything you want to do areas. With a space so large though, anything you do would have to be on a large scale to have any impact at all.

Are you interested in keeping the petal design? If so, I'd be tempted to celebrate that since it's already there - perhaps better align some of the elements with the aid of a few stakes and some string - true up the two more rectangular areas, in particular. And maybe add more "petals" on the sides of the rectangles to get a more pleasingly symmetrical arrangement.

I have a vision of an English knot garden although hedging, etc. can be a real budget buster.

oh i would love to see a picture of the house with the area from the road back...i love the creek. I love nandina's idea with maybe a little picnic area there...some weeping willows a few small flower area's maybe even a gazebo in time. i have always wanted a lake with a walk out with a gazebo in the middle. Beautiful and be able to fish as well, life could'nt get any better :).

The NC Dept. of Transportation is a good resource as to what you can and can't do on the highway right of way, which covers a large strip along the front.

Here is a link that might be useful: NCDOT Roadside ...

Wow! Lots of good ideas to get my brain around. I am adding additional info. and a couple more pictures.
1. Nandina - I already have a decorative pond on the left side of driveway. No bass, just lilies, rocks and goldfish.
2. I want to add a gazebo between pond and driveway. This will be the only additional structure added. I already have the red-roofed workshop on left. (Budget comes into play and want to maintain natural focus)
3. Saypoint(and others) - I want to continue to mow the area (I know, insane), but add plantings and other elements to provide some structure and focus. I would like the area to look "attractive" from the road and house. I could create a series of islands, but others on this forum have rightly discouraged a lot of that. I do OK with small areas, but my mind can't seem to work with suck a large area. I deliberately bought the property to allow me space to be creative. I have the space now, any more ideas would be greatly appreciated!
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I am discussing your landscape using the second picture posted. I still see the 'bowl' area to the right of the drive as one large pond reconnecting with the stream, if this is possible.

Let's talk about your problems. First, it appears as though this land has been used and abused until a few years ago in a sand(?) mining operation. Yet you may be located in that part of NC which has a wonderful source of underground water flowing beneath the sand on a layer of clay. If so then you might want to work on the large pond idea as there would be no need to divert the stream.

Your property begs for enclosure from the road. This becomes interesting as you will have difficulty planting trees/shrubs in the roadside right-of-way and behind that toward the house are fairly low power lines. So, any trees of substance would have to be planted well behind those.

One solution might be to enlarge your present pond a bit and plant a weeping willow which would add a flowing texture to the landscape. That is all that would be needed on that side of the drive.

You might consider installing a post and three wire grape fenceline on the righthand side curved to match the road curve installed under the power lines. It is a rural look which would work. Behind the grapes you can continue with your 'petal' garden.

A red maple (Acer rubrum) well off the lefthand corner of the house is another thought.
Just a few beginning thoughts as we race out the door for another road trip. I often say that my next DH will not be a jazz muscian. But we just celebrated number 57 so I guess I am stuck with him!

I also think extending the pond out is a good idea with a couple weeping willows. I also think that the area to the right might look nice with a wooden foot bridge (maybe a decorative one on both sides) extending over the creek, giving a private access to both area's. The right area also would be nice with some nice sitting benches and some ornamental tree's and flower beds and maybe a few larger shade tree's planted not to cause a problem with the power lines or planting restrictions next to the highway. Also a great place to fill in with large flowering bushes as there is alot of space there. I think this would make both area's flow together. I would also with bushes, tree's etc...try to provide some privacy on both area's but yet make it a beautiful area for passer byers. I would also continue the stepping stones that come from the pond to the road over to the other area in the same fashion to make it flow well. I don't particularly care for the flower shaped beds, it kind of reminds me of the sites you see where people swear there was a ufo siting...it just don't hit me is all. Maybe place your gazebo you was speaking of on the right side as well. Also maybe some bushes or flowers up each side of the drive to connect the house and both area's. Good luck deciding what to do...you have a beautiful place.

What about a row of something like forsythia bushes or another shrub that spreads out nicely and fast? And you could design a few paths to "here and there" using the pond, gazebo, driveway, and already designed flower bed. A local landscaper said everything you put in place in a large yard/landscape area should "flow" and/or "go somewhere"...his yard, front and back, are very interesting. He uses a lot of paths, 2 small patios, a gazebo, statuary, lots of mulch with different shrubs in among the mulch. Corner split rail accents his driveway with flowers in and around them...ENJOY and you'll find lots of good ideas on this site as I've discovered.