I see there is a public sidewalk so your guests will be fine. Good question about a walk to the driveway - will you need that? If so, that could anchor/shape your plan on that side. I think the question that is pestering me is whether this house needs foundation planting at all. And if so, if whether roses (if those are the roses photoshopped in there) perform this function well. Only under that arched window is it clear to me that a plant would be a good thing. Other than that, I might consider pulling the beds away from the house. Sometimes it helps to think instead of what lawn shape you want. You sound as if you change houses often. If you plan a resale, then uninspired is fine. If you plan to be here a while, then at least get plants you like... you can always move them around a bit. I agree a visit to a couple of local nurseries would be your best starting point. Finally, that tree is nice but might be a little close to the house. KarinL

First, let me say that I wish everyone who offered a picture of their property would start out with a picture such as you have used. It shows the wide view. It's reasonably sharp and decently lit so details can be seen. While other pictures might be needed as the thread goes on, this is the headline picture that best explains to the person who's never been there what the property is about. So good job on that! With landscaping, things generally look good when first they make functional sense. A quick way to make things look odd is to impose things in the landscape that seem to serve no genuine purpose ... like retaining walls where there is no reason to retain additional earth. If you really want a nice landscape, I think it is setting out on the wrong foot to say you like this or that without first thinking of what the house and property is saying it needs and wants. The front door sits low to the ground. Is there any reason to raise the elevation anywhere in front of the house? To me, it looks like there is not, and that has me believing that anything like a raised garden bed with rock walls in front of the house will seem like a bad idea. It looks like you have a swale at the right side with the grade falling off and an existing retaining wall at a level that makes sense. Retaining the earth against the house allow you to level out the base which is holding up the building and give the house a setting that looks more stable than a slope would provide. But the planting space this retained area creates seems pinched and far from able to provide a luxuriant looking setting. If you want to display and feature something (like the face of your house) then don't use plantings to pinch and smother it. Use vegetation AROUND AND OUTSIDE OF IT to help make sure that the house remains the center of attention. Let those plantings guide (as like a [wide] funnel) one's view to the house. You could rebuild the retained area in a larger configuration, or leave it alone and add plantings outside of it in a larger configuration. You should say where you're located if you want people to also give you actual plant suggestions.

It sounds like you have a love for plants and landscaping in general! I would consider hiring a professional to collaborate your ideas and come up with a design for your property. If you have the time and know-how to construct the whole thing I would do it. Maybe hire a contractor for the stone work and heavy lifting, and do the plantings and bed work yourself! This is quite a large project that needs a lot of consideration including grading, lay-out, style, budget and you!

Rosemarie, you don't have to do it all at once. Take the pic to a local nursery (not a big box store, but a regular nursery) and have them help you with similar looking plants that will grow in your area. Doug's design is a mature landscape, so it will take several years for a newly planted area to look as lush and full as what he shows. But, you'll get there. Plant things as you can afford them and as you find the plants you want.