Hi NCguy, Like most lots, your backyard space is a rectangle with a border fence or wall. Simple shapes, like a rectangle, are so quickly recognized by the eye we lose interest. And the space has no view for the eye to escape to, so we continue to search inside the "box" for interest. Introducing curved shapes inside the yard creates interest and leads the eye to explore the details. The background of the fence and two story buildings is a distraction. We might do well to stop the eye and bring it down into the yard again. The view from the patio will help you to strategically place a few small trees to block out the nearby buildings. Planted 8 feet from the fence, these trees should work well. You might consider using Dogwood or Flowering Cherry. Mark the tree locations and then, using a garden hose, start at the fence corner (about 3 feet out from the fence) and make a curving line, like a snake, across the 50 foot fenceline. Shrubs, planted in groups of 3 or 4 along this line (with spaces in between)will create a new background. The shrubline, combined with the trees, will keep the eye moving. You might use broadleaf shrubs like hydraengea or Rhododendrum where the trees give shade; and use spirea or weigelia in the sun. For privacy on the right, you might cut out a curved, semi-circle of lawn, 4 feet wide and 15 feet long, for a shrub or evergreen hedge. Hibiscus would give you choices for flower color or evergreens like Juniper 'Witchita Blue' would add a silver grey to the yard. Inside the semi-circle would be space for a small circle of perennials and/or annuals. A border of brick, laid side by side would keep the lawn looking neat. Now take the hose and start at the end of the hedgerow (nearest the fence) and make a large pond shape that moves to the left, avoids the trees, and ends at the left side of the patio. This is the new lawn shape. Any areas outside the lawn are for shrubs and border plants. Inside this new lawn space there's room for a patio extension. If the patio is concrete, you might consider continuing that material and then staining it all to match. A rounded shape would work well here. A 3 foot wide by 5 feet long cutout at the patio edge will leave room for a drift of low plantings. Gotta go now. Good luck with your project! -Ted Kmiecik

Sometimes its hard to suggest things without knowing the rest of the story, so to speak. There are iris that are white, but some are bluish white and some are yellowish white, and they will look different depending on what they are planted with. Sometimes the bluish white ones can look sort of gray with the wrong companions. Everything Plus is nice and would be harder to figure out what would look good with it if you wanted to have a couple of iris together. I have Princess of Paradise which is sort of similar, and I have it planted with a dark purple NOID historic, Tom Johnson, and a orange iris, so not your color scheme. Some iris grow better in different parts of the country, and so it would be good to ask around where you are to see what grows well in your area. There are a lot of pink selections, and they range from orangy pinks to purpley pinks, and you might want to stay away from the orangy, coraly pinks depending on what else is in your garden. I saw a big bunch of Cherub's Smile at the Blue J gardens, and I thought it was really pretty, and isn't too peachy. I think a dark iris would be nice with the Everything Plus. I have Superstition, and it is a tough iris.

Perhaps you could explain it better. Is there a line of plants between the paver patio and the eating area? Do guests have to hop over that to dine? I do not know the scale but it looks like you are leaving sparse room for plants along the outside edges. If you plan to be outdoors during the summer I think you need at least one tree. Not sure you left room for a tree. I would also help to see a photo of the area.

It looks like a fence and the neighbor has a hedge. Who has the arborvitae? But yes, you can stick a bush in it. You will have to move the pots, the rhubarb, the green hosta and give up some lawn to do it. Now a close city location is needed for appropriate plant suggestions. Your snow picture says the right selection of Yew might be what you need.