You can post your photos to a hosting site like photobucket, and then post them directly from there, here. You can fit quite a few photos (unlimited?) on one post.

'Can anyone suggest any ways to revitalize/prune/fertilize the shrub (privet) that is already there?' The link below is a good general pruning guide from Purdue Univ. Cooperative Extension. They mention privet as a shrub to prune after flowering, but I'd ignore that since you are doing more severe rejuvenation pruning, and losing the flowers for a year is the least of your worries. another one from Iowa State Extension: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1958.pdf And here's a link to both a video and a written description on how to rejuvenate an old privet hedge from 'This Old House.' He mentions adding a shrub fertilizer, but if your town has a waste recycling program that allows you to get compost for minimal cost, I'd go get a bunch of that and top dress right under the hedge (and where you want to plant other stuff) now so that it can start improving your soil. I googled privet rejuvenation pruning, and these were only a few of the links if you want more . . . Google is a wonderful resource if you know the terms you need ;>) If you decide to go for the rejuvenation pruning, you will most likely have a shorter time to get coverage back since the shrubs already have an established root system, while if you totally replant, it will probably be at least three years. If you decide to remove the privet and replant, be sure to either dig in compost or do a lasagna layering to improve the soil, which will really help determine the success of your planting. Those current shrubs have been there quite a while, and if the soil was neglected as the hedge was, it's probably seriously lacking in organic matter which is really the key to productive soils. To get rid of the oaks and other tree saplings in the hedge, cut each to ground level during the growing season, and paint the freshly cut stump with a brush killer, being careful not to get any on the plants you want. Round-up has a short half-life if you want something with low toxicity (compared to other brush killers) but may allow some resprouting and so will need to be repeated. Alternatively, cut all the roots below ground level by removing dirt with a trowel and taking a pruner to each root. A final thought . . . it's easiest to look at your conditions and plant accordingly. So, if you want the hedge on the south side of your yard for privacy, you'll have shade over there, so start researching shade perennials by doing a search for threads with that topic over in the perennials forum (go down to the bottom of the forum) or google the topic. For your veggies, can you plant on the side of the yard farthest from the hedge to get the most sun or can you plant your tomatoes in the front yard in decorative obelisks instead of tomato cages if that will give them more sun? Have fun, and let us know what you've decided and add some new photos as work progresses. Here is a link that might be useful: Purdue Cooperative Extension Pruning guide

just about any type of birch i'm familiar with goes after water aggressively, and their roots can damage anything you happen to like nearby. (correct me on that if I'm wrong) tulip trees are big awesome trees, yes if bald cypress grows well there, perhaps a well-behaved cultivar would be nice for that spot, or even a "nanjing beauty" tree, a hybrid of north american trees, created in china. (I'm partial to bald cypress (2) and nanjing (5) )

Karma is absolutely right. Too many people assign a name to their brugs just because they think it looks like variety X. Unless you know positively what variety you have it should just be called a NOID white, yellow, etc. There's nothing wrong with NOIDs and I'm not sure why so many people that aren't hybridizers are so hung up on names. Karyn