Woody, I'm no pro with photoimaging (paint.net - free download), so it is likely that the rendition is more than a little flawed, but circles are not for everyone either. I only use it here and you know that is not often. This is just an example of one way to do it. I like the circle because it has a containing feel to it and there is an automatic emphasis on the center point of an arc where there would not be such a reinforcement if it were a "U" shaped straight sided seating wall and rectangle patio. That would also introduce a line perpendicular to the face of the house very near to the jog that goes back to the door which will look very awkward if it is "almost, but not quite" in line with the jog. The curve allows going past the jog without making that awkward relationship.It is my way of avoiding the introduction of a conflict in this situation. Any of it can work, but the circle is easier to get away with. I completely understand that it won't float everyone's boat and I would do something different for you. Lazygardens made a great point on the "meet & greet" because now the focus is on an area that is not stuffed in a dark corner (the front door). It is a good example of changing the game to one that you can more easily win. If you don't like the context, make a new one. This is an intermediate stop on the way to the door and you know it before you get there. It is a great strategy when dealing with hidden doors. Looking through the sequence of photos on the thread, it starts with the (1) garage wall over powering the house, goes to (2) neutralizing the garage, (3) framing the house to move you toward the middle, (skip 4), and finally (5) placing yourself on the patio. Hopefully, whether or not you like the outcome, it demonstrates the impact of the accumulation of subtle techniques to mitigate existing negatives and enhance the positives. None of it has to do with what cultivar of plant you select - that too can take things to the next level, but this is working from general to specific. Plants were all chosen because I could grab them off of another photoimaging thing I did a while back and not because I selected specific plants. This example is all about abstracts influencing the big picture and not about what specifics were used to demonstrate it. I hope it makes people watch for these things and make their own judgements of what they see and can utilize to change a space or composition when they need to.

I agree last one is an oak. Check out chestnut, swamp chestnut, and chinkapin oaks... Second-to-last is probably black cherry. I'm thinking the first may be native persimmon, but may need to wait for leaves to mature.

any tree... can be pruned into any shape you want.... if a JM will live in your zone 5 ... there is no reason you cant train it into the shape or form you want ... ken

we call them bagworms ... they are mostly irrelevant to any mature, otherwise healthy tree ... though ugly.. they rarely have any significant impact on the trees ... in my yard.. they are so far up in the cherry trees ... that short of spending hundreds of dollars to have professional sprayers come in ... there is nothing to do but ignore them .... most wasp sprays are labeled for such .. you would wait until just before dark .. when they all return to the nest.. and shoot them ... making sure you are upwind ... you may not kill them all.. but you can reduce the population significantly ... and you will ONLY use sprays that are properly labeled.. now that you know what they are .... that all said ... if i found a bag on a recent baby transplant ... i would act to help the babe.. but otherwise.. frankly .. its a waste of money and effort to deal with them on larger, more mature specimens ... as with most bug onslaughts.. most years you barely notice them.. and every once in a while.. the populations seem to explode ... though you probably never noticed them .. as you drive around.. look for them. and you will see they are everywhere, this time of year .... you will NOT eradicate them.. and it wouldn't be worth the effort to try ... good luck .. and be safe driving and looking in trees.. lol ... ken