My parcel of 1.25 acres can be described as an open woodland or "savannah". There are plenty of trees but they are spaced farther apart than a woodland. I purposely have left snags or dead trunks standing in the back yard (until they eventually fall over), and had Bluebirds that nested in woodpecker holes for 2 years in the snags! I also refrain from pruning most of the dead lower branches on the trees, because the birds love to use these for perching spots. I have saved some large branches that were pruned from the trees, and have a natural and gnarly shape, with the purpose of burying the butt end of the branches about 1 - 1.5 feet into the ground and this provides great perching spots for the birds. I also built a 25 foot long trellis out of natural wood - the straight trunks of Norway maple and Ash saplings mostly, but also adorned with ornamental and curving branches - on which I grow morning glories, Cardinal Climber, and native Honeysuckle and Virginia Creeper. The birds love to perch on this trellis! This type of landscaping is "naturalized" - and is not a formal, highly manicured landscape - but the birds love it!

Good luck in the search, in the end I just did it myself. Installation usually equalled the price of the materials.

I think dogwoods are supposed to be understory trees actually, but a lot of people use them as specimens. I may be wrong about this, but if the location is not somewhat sheltered, I think you may have trouble getting a dogwood to last that far north. You might want to check. I find that they say pink dogwood can make it here in zone 5/6, but that is pushing it. I have seen a few in sheltered locations (understory in-town locations that are sheltered from wind), but not here out in the windy part of town. I am even thinking that the regular white C. florida sometimes doesn't do well here. I am just going on what I have seen. I am no expert. I have no suggestions for you though. I happen to have a pagoda dogwood that is doing well out in the windy part of my yard, so who knows?

If your yard is large, do a diagonal fence the 10’ away (be sure to call to confirm). They can access from neighbors yard. we have a box much nearer to the fence. Previous owner put it there. I think if you put it too close and they need to access it by the easement guidelines they can take out your fence for access but not sure how often that actually happens