How tall does your focal point need to be? You've already said two fairly tall things, but I can't see a whole vista (with building) to see what ratio of height you think you need.

Personally, I think something white or variegated green and white would be excellent with the thundercloud peach and regular peach. Something shorter could be variegate kerria (which likes some shade) which would bloom on and off all summer and repeat your yellows, taller maybe a variegated pittosporum which will eventually get mid-height. If you need evergreen you could do variegated yucca like color guard....

I'm open to mixtures. I don't want just a flowerbed, and I think something there needs to be at least 20-30' tall. The peach tree in the back is already 12' tall and barely shows up from the driveway about 75' away.

What great planning you're doing. I'm just getting to the point of realizing that I should have, but didn't, put a path and gate in the right spot for the best view. The "best" view is the neighbor's oak, instead the view is of the stop sign at the corner.

I think a purple-foliaged tree would be great. Perhaps flanked by a tall evergreen--maybe spiky, like a tall arborvitae, or conical, like a tall holly. And then a shorter shrub on the other side of the purple guy. I liked the suggestion for variegation. You could be more formal by having one of each (1 tall evergreen, one shorter variegated) on either side of the purple tree. Staggering them a little so they're not planted all in one row seems a good idea, whether you go for casual or formal. Some large ornamental grass would give winter interest as well, if you didn't want to use evergreens. However, they don't get all that tall.

Token I cant take my eye off your post, I see my little compact mound of daisies sitting there neatly surrounding them. I may have to take a picture of my compact neat little mound of shasta daisy silver princess I have around my mailbox if you excuse where I am letting some go to seed that is. Eww that aint pretty lol.

I like white for the color of your fence it matches your trim work on your house.

Sorry I got daisy on the brain around the post I can go no further lol.

I am not entirely clear on where you want this focal point. I see these two posts and I wonder do you want them to be the entrance into the garden? Do you want to draw attention in from the street, driveway, or into the garden when you are there?

What comes to my mind even with those unaswered questions is; an arbor with trailing/climbing ?? your choice. It isn't a tree and since there are a lot of those already this will stand out splendidly. A covered opening is always inviting, it's instinctive. Secondly; moving water, it is always the strongest attracter in any space. It doesn't matter what it is just that it is moving. Water signals life to the human brain and we automatically are drawn to it. So for my money I say a covered entrance with a view to a moving water feature. Both can be as simple and inexpensive or as complicated and expensive as you want. Me, I go for simple and inexpensive. ;-)

I think whatever you decide to do will look wonderful Tom. I think painting the picket fence white to start would look great too. Down the road you could paint it purple. I agree with LeSan, an arbor over the opening, and a water feature. I can just see it. Are you going to have gates into the garden area or just leave it an open entry?

Keep posting as you go along. You really are an inspiration with all that you do in your gardens and inside your home.

FlowerLady

There will be an arbor where the first two posts are. I've got it planned out in my head already. It could change, but there will be some sort of enclosure for the opening. The posts are so far apart because I need to drive the truck through to spread leaf mulch on the back beds. Otherwise, I have to do it one wheelbarrow at a time. I also want to be able to get back there to move rocks, etc. I might put up a gate someday. I haven't decided on that yet.

The plantings around the post and fence will be a project for this winter and next spring. I should have lots of perennials to divide this fall.

I like the idea of staggered plantings and will try to find some variegated shrubs to plant out back. I think the Thundercloud will be relocated back there. Some loropetalums will be spread around the back yard too. They need more sun than they're getting in their current locations.

When did purple become my dominant landscape color? :)

I agree with flowerlady... I love the fact that you are planning and giving everything such careful thoughts.

I wish that I had done that. Even considering textures and colors of plants requires so much planning and you are doing water features, arbors, gating, etc....along with the plantings.

No matter what you do, it will be beautiful because it already is and you are just getting started! You sure have done a lot since you bought your house.

Carrie

If there's enough sun, looks like the perfect spot for one of my favorite conifers, Chamaecyparis pisifera aurea. The chartruese foliage further acts as a focal point, particularly against a dark green background.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sawara cypress

In my way of trying to find a design,my approach is to have the fence completed first before making any decisions. Once that gets set up, consider everything from height of the fence to the colour of the fence.. Then that's when you should start plotting your yard. Because when your fence gets set up and you consider the entire scene, including how the light works against that fence and the house, then you can start concentrating on what sort of colours to choose from. I for one love the idea of foxgloves growing against a white fence - however you may differ and perhaps like climbing pink roses trained on that fence.. You might even consider setting up a 'peek-a boo type hedging. Similar to P. Allen Smith's urban garden where he cut out a round 'window' through his hedging so you could peek right into the garden within.

Also set up something of interest close to the entrance to lure the visitor in. Another thing to consider, many of us tend to feel better when a path meanders as opposed to having a straight lines. So consider a focus one side of the fence, be it a statue, fountain, birdbath, bench, pond or rockery..etc...

A meandering path produces that element of surprise so at first put one little focus say near the gate entrance and then 'lead' the person into the next item of focus, meandering around more garden beds.

I know this is being descriptive rather then being very specific. I think your imagination will do the rest to make this a spectacular yard.

Yoshino Cherry (I probaly spelled that wrong) blooms white in the sping. I love this tree has an asian feel to it.

Weeping Willow Cherry, blooms pink.

Cornelian Cherry, native cherry tree.

I cant think of the small tree large shrub I have in mind but it starts off in spring blooming yellow then to white then puts on berries or fruit in fall thats edible. I will think on that one and let ya know.

Token, how many feet is there between the arbor-to-be and the tree in the distance that is the current focal point? Are you planning to put a path from the arbor to the tree? Are you planning to rip out any of that grass and put in beds between the arbor and the tree?

If this were my yard, I would put in a meandering path with beds on each side of it that actually obscures that tree, I'm not sure of the distance so I don't know how much meandering it could do, maybe just a sort of semicircle, or a sort of long drawn-out U (almost like a smile). Then I would put beds on each side full of perennials and shrubs, that would be planted thickly enough and be tall enough to obscure what's ahead on the path. They say that what draws people in is wanting to see what's around the corner. Maybe have it curve to the right, since you're eventually planning to put some kind of seating area there, and the path could lead to it.

I'd also put flowing water in one of the new beds (a fountain or small pond), but I wouldn't make it visible, I'd put it out of sight from the arbor, so that the sound and wanting to see what's making it would draw people in.

How dedicated are you to keeping all that grass? How wedded to 90-degree angles are you?

Hope my rambling makes sense.

The tree is about 50-60' away from the arbor. I thought it was 75', but I walked it this morning. My best guess was 55'.

That's not grass. It's clover with some bermuda and other weeds.

I've decided. The whole back yard is to be transformed this winter into beds with winding paths. I need somewhere to plant all the divisions, new seedlings, and cuttings I'm doing. Just trying to plant the edges isn't working the way I want. If I sell the house, the next owners can mow it all down after I remove my special plants. Right?

Now I just need to figure out the layout.

Hooray!! Tom has given in and is going for it with beds a plenty! I think it will turn out splendidly. You are definately an inspiration to us all.
Oh, and the purple thing? You did it to yourself buddy. Nobody can just do a "little" purple. It's not that kind of color. ;-) LOL

I like that idea! Just make it one huge flower garden with winding paths. There will be so much going on you'll forget the new axis created by the two posts.

But if it still looks off to your eye (which I agree it does right now because of the size of the tree) perhaps you can place the hoped for arbor in that space. Then you'd be creating a real attention getting destination point. Of course you and your guests may not make it to that destination right away due to all the lovely flowers they'll be gawking at. : )

Diana

From what I have seen of some of your other beds I think you will do a great job. I love winding paths through a yard full of gardens. Big huge rocks here and there some kind of water feature. Little lamp post hidden under a nice clematis lighting up a nice walkway at night. Yep it will be very pretty, cant wait to see the pictures when you start on it.

How dare anyone mow down a garden, I hope if you ever sell your house that someone will treasure your gardens as much as you do, or at least half as much.

I vote for a white pickett fence and a little purple detail on your arbor.

I LOVE red/ purple foiage plants. Can you grow tricolor beech? My fave.

It will be exciting to see a big project and not have to turn a shovelful of soil! I'll just sit here and watch you...

Mickie

Here is a link that might be useful: tri-color beech

Perfect choice! I love, love, love winding, meandering paths through gardens. Ummmm...what kind of paths--pea gravel? grass? wood shavings? stone?

Hmm, and just to add more ideas. Once you get your beds set up and the flowers are blooming, get old teacups and glue them to a post. Stick several in the garden beds and add birdseeds and water... Also do the same with saucer plates with a little water for butterflies. Enjoy

I have thought abut this space since I first saw it- it would pop into my head at weird moments.

I like the idea of paths and plants, but I think it still needs a focal point.

This is what I would do, since it looks like a very valuable space.

First, I would get it level. A bit of terracing would help, and it doesn't have to be the whole garden that is leveled. You could dig from the left and move it to the right. Mostly the center part for what is in my mind. If you level the 2/3 to the left, you can garden on two levels, and your winding paths would work splendidly.

Then I would lay a medallion walkway, split in the middle and reconnecting on the far side, to provide a space for a water feature, or a large pot planted with things like tall grasses, and vining things spilling over the edge. The center walkway can be any material you want it to be- stone, wood, mulch, whatever.

Around the back of this patio/walkway, I would plant something that is in your face bright and beautiful. Here, it could be bougainvillea, all one color, but I am not sure that it would survive winters there. I think it is good to 25 degrees.

A wall of esperanza would be beautiful, or you could do it in more than one level- esperanza and plumbago, for instance. I would just make sure that it is tall and thick, so that it makes a boundry with your woods in the back. And you can still have the winding paths and intense plantings. You will have added a centerpiece, is all.

Not an overnight project, but you are young and have time and energy. And with your house, I think it would be fantastic.

The link shows an example of what I am talking about, but I would suggest a slimmer walkway, not as wide as they have it. Imagine plant materials where the front door is.

Janie

Here is a link that might be useful: just a thought....

Janie, I like that idea a lot. I've been thinking of leveling an area just to put in a patio, maybe 12' in diameter with a pond or water feature on one side. In the gully, I'm planting pyracantha which will thrive here. Bougainvillea won't survive our winters. We get down to 10 degrees for a few days and usually in the mid to lower 20s for a month or so. Large grasses, oakleaf hydrangea, pussywillows for nesting birds, and a few evergreens will sit on top of the existing retaining wall that creates what I call the "gully".

Instead of dead center, I'm thinking a winding path to the back. Paths of grass like my other areas will tie it all together. The patio will be stone and brick recycled from the house and property. I have a chimney that needs to come down inside the house. It's already been removed to below the roof. One brick at a time. The paths will be wide at first, and over the years can creep in to create smaller spaces. Birdbaths, nesting boxes, and feeders can be scattered throughout.

In a month or two, I'll break out the roundup and start killing the bermuda. I'd prefer not to use that, but there's nothing else I know that will destroy it. Lasagna gardening doesn't do a great job over that stuff. Centipede in the mix makes it even harder. The clover I can live with since it does provide nitrogen.

And thanks to everyone else for the suggestions and compliments. I'll be sure to keep you up to date. As soon as I get my tiller back, I'll start leveling the patio area and creating the paths to the back. Next spring, I hope to have a couple areas ready for planting. Just need a few days off to get it done.

I've been thinking about this, too, but I haven't been thinking practical thoughts like Janie.

I think the focal point needs to be an adult tree house retreat once the path is in place.

Nell