All I can say is Beautiful!
Won't that Rhodie get large over time?

Good for you! (I know it was a big decision for you.) It looks great.

It's lovely, but if it were my yard (nice house!), I would want some taller plants worked in there for visual effect. It looks too flat but maybe that's the way you want it. The color splashes and different varieties of plants are nice.

My neighbors did their whole front yard and both side yards in hosta and heuchera. It is shaded and looks nice, but overkill.

Now I see they have the grass shaved off and neatly levelled bare soil on the part where you have killed yours. I don't have any ideas for what to put there. I'm thinking of doing the same thing because I don't have enough full-sun spots for my flowers, but I don't want to just plant it willy nilly, and I don't want portulaca no matter how fancy it is, I like have something nobody else does but complementary to what grows natively in my zone.

I don't know about moving the rhododendron, but some fullness and small flowering trees nearer the house might be an idea like dogwood or redbud. I've no idea what that one name you mentioned is. Also there's no real accent like a bird bath or shepherd's hook for a feeder/hanging basket or anything like that. I don't care for garden statuary, but a lot of people like it. It needs something though. I wouldn't recommend a gazing ball, but I broke down and got one and perched it on a makeshift trellis for my clematis so I hope it will just show a little bit.

Sigh. I wish I hadn't seen that dead grass. Are you going to use a tiller? I want to strip off the sod and till it but am afraid because there are some utility lines under there, don't know how deep but do know where they are.

Now all the above is from a novice POV as I'm not trained for landscaping and don't have a particular knack for putting things together right so bear that in mind. I do know what I like when I see what others have done.

Consider some boxwoods neatly clipped along the wall and taller one in the corner nook. This would add some needed trastional height between the flatness of the lawn to the house. Also boxwoods would add a greater sense of unity to the patchwork of groundcovers with their variety of textures,shapes, and colors. Alternatively the groundcovers could be re-arranged, and the corner could be left empty of further plantings.
'

Congratulations! You did something. I mean that in a good way. Now you can react to what you have done. Actually, you are doing that already with your thoughts on the Rhody.

Sometimes doing anything when you are stuck gets the whole thing rolling and leads you to good results. My father always told me to stick any plant in the ground when I got stuck, in order to reset the stage to move forward knowing full well the plant would not remain there.

I suspect the Serviceberry won't remain there either, but you are getting something going now.

Forward and to the left. Is there any doubt?

laag: Are you sure you aren't a librarian, because you are reading me like a BOOK! :) Thanks again for all of your input--much appreciated!

isabella_ma: it's funny you mention boxwoods, because they were my initial thought for under the windows. I do like the serviceberry and want to keep it there, but I think the rhodie will be leaving, alas, and a curved row of boxwoods will go in. Problem is how to situate the boxwoods now that the serviceberry is there. Oh the drama! Thank you for your suggestions.

Wow, I remember your original posts. This is wonderful start. I agree, it wants some some vertica-ity. I think 'iris' but only because that's one of most vertical plants this season. They are not a good idea for such a small, visible garden because they are short, short seasoned, need dividing often, and supervision for iris borers. On the other hand, you could probably find some beauties inexpensively and try them, just to get an idea.Tall ornamental grass...or too messy?
Just don't buy that columnar barbarus or ilex 'sky pencil' they just don't hold their shape, and i think sky pencil is susceptible to winter kill.

I see your area is Wisconsin. Why did I think Chicago? If you ever get to the Bucktown area of Chicago, many residents have done wonderful things with their small front yards and modified 'hell strips.' I was very impressed and appreciative as I walked around there last weekend.

I can only deduce LAAG was a Benedictine or Franciscan monk in his last life. He urged you repeatedly to put that tree up and to the left and now is encouraging you merely for getting it planted. LAAG is my hero and should be yours. What scholerly tolerance. Exceptional.

misslucinda--missing your point a little--the yard is mine to make mistakes galore, if I wish (and I will). Nevertheless, I agree wholeheartedly with you that laag is a valuable resource and a friend to our community.