When I think of conifers in a garden Adrian Bloom of course comes to mind. He has a number of good books that include useful info about conifers but perhaps his Gardening with Conifers or Adrian BloomÂs Year-Round Garden would be good books to pick up. Not far from you in Wellesley is the Mass. Hort. Elm Bank property where Adrian Bloom designed the Bressingham garden that was installed 2yrs(?) ago. This is a superb example of a mixed border that includes conifers and might be worth your time to check it out. Paul Miskovsky, Miskovsky Landscaping Inc., Falmouth, MA who worked closely with Adrian Bloom on the installation and continues to donate his time is in your neck of the woods often enough that you might give him a call regarding your plans. kt

I recently had a landscape design plan prepared by Tree House Studios. The owner is a landscape architect and the design was done professionally at a reasonable cost. I don't believe she actually does any install or hardscape work (we are doing the work ourselves) but I seem to recall that she can make those arrangements. I found her name in the local paper and took a chance on hiring her. I was pleased with the results and would definitely use her again. You can check out the webite at www.tree-housestudios.com

Having a midcentury modern type landscape is not going to compliment the house very well........unless you plan to remodel to convert the ranch style to MCM. I would pull up that walkway in a heartbeat. It does nothing to entice visitors and from the photo angle shown, is a bit of an eyesore. I would relocate the walkway entrance off to one side (closest to the drive or where visitors park) and gently curve to the entry. This doesn't have to be expensive. It is something you and a few friends/family can do with pry bars and a sledgehammer (been there, done that). If you are careful breaking it up, you can recycle the chunks as pavers for the new walkway. You will likely need more but recycled concrete is cheap, if not free, and can look like more expensive flagstone if laid properly. Check out craigslist or look around for construction sites. You will need to prepare a proper base for the concrete pavers but that is more work than cost. Gravel and sand are inexpensive. I would also curve the bedlines. The house is not symmetrical or formal in its architecture and softer, curving forms are friendlier and less formal in appearance as well. I would focus the planting beds - generously sized - along the perimeter of the front yard and have lawn flanking the walkway. Plant choices are up to you but you have plenty of space for at least a couple of reasonably sized trees and deciding what they are and where to locate them would be one of the first orders of business.

Yes.