Find out exactly what you can and cannot do in the easement. As pinkmountain suggested, can you put a privacy fence along the chain link fence? Perhaps with open trellis along the top to give more height. Looks like a good area to have a dog and the trees will provide some privacy in the spring and summer. You will have room for a patio within the usable area of the yard.

Which window are you meaning when you say "next to the porch"? For the bed in front of the porch you need something that will stay low--you don't want to block the window or have to be pruning all the time. For the other side of the front door, I would create a curving bed that will extend to the corner of the house and maybe around the corner depending on how the easement works. Does the drainage go underground? and they just need access to it? If so you could have stepping stones in mulch that could be easily taken up if work is necessary. Plant a small ornamental tree such as a cherry or serviceberry in the bed at least 10 to 15 feet from the house. This will provide interest and keep people away from that window, You want to give the tree plenty of room so read up on the mature size of whatever you select.

Good luck!

Good thoughts. I will ask if I am allowed to put a fence along the very back of the house (though that technically is within the 30 feet of the drainage easement) but I will find out. (The neighbors with the chain link fence had the house built in the 1960's so they were already here when this land/lot area was developed).

Only allowed 6 feet high fences, not higher. The backyard is sloped so water drains towards the easement; the very back of the house is 7 ft higher than the grade/slope where the chain link fence is.

The window "next to the porch" was referring to the picture showing the front of the house (not covered by the porch). You referred to it suggesting a curving bed.

The drainage on the east side is underground; however, the yard is sloped in such a way to have a swale. Mulch and stepping stones is a great idea.

Even if I could put a fence at the very rear of the property, the east 10ft easement poses a problem. To bring the fence back up to the house, it'd cross all over the 10ft east easement.

I thought of evergreens lining the back property line to create more privacy in all seasons between us and back neighbors. Anyone know how expensive it is to get something in the 5-7 ft range? (I don't think I could get something so small and wait 10+ years for it to grow to get privacy).

Any recommendations on specific plants/flowers, etc?

A tip about the forum. In general, it's confusing and overwhelming to have a thread that lumps all areas of the yard together and discusses them in no particular order. It's better to devote a thread to a specific area -- like back, front or side yard -- and focus on just that area. Though it's fine to have multiple threads running concurrently. It helps people keep clear on what, and where, is being talked about.

Then, for the pictures, it's much better to take a complete set of pictures for a given scene. For example, if you want to photo the back yard facing the back lot line, stand somewhere near the back, center of the house for all pictures. Aim the camera leftward for the first shot, pan rightward taking consecutive, slightly overlapping shots until you have captured the final, right-facing picture. Post all the pictures, not a computer generated panorama. This would give us a better idea of what what is in your back yard and how everything fits together.

Great - thanks for the tips. this is my first time on any garden related forum. I'll see what i can do.

Will re-do the post starting with the backyard only.

Great. I think that will make it easiest to understand and work with. Provide good pictures -- a complete scene -- and you'll be off to a good start.