Melodiek~ My parents live in not too far south of Bellingham in town called Mt Vernon. Don't miss the tulip festival there, it's breathtaking! Their weather is a bit more tempered than in B'ham, where there can be some nasty ice storms. Having had the pleasure of watching a soccer game up there one year when the sideways rain turned to ice.... well, let's just say you aren't thinking what to plant right about then! There are some wonderful apple orchards in the town of Lynden, not far from Bellingham. Wet and cloudy, yes it will be. But it really makes you appreciate the drop-dead gorgeous views over the sound when the sun comes out!!!

Hey all, I am taking this all in and organizing my list of trees to look into. Thank you! "But remember...for a harmonious landscape composition, some repetition is a good thing. Otherwise, what you end up with is less a landscape and more a plant collection. " Thanks, wisconsitom, that is precisely what I needed to hear. I'm not going for an ordered or symmetrical look per se, but I DO want a direction, intention and theme. I like so many type of landscapes, though! And I can't wait until I got it all figured out to start planting, otherwise it will never happen. Also I need to pace my yard expenditures. I know nothing about garden or landscape design, but I am a plant person and have been gardening since I was a child, have worked on farms and as a gardener and done botanical internships, ect... Enough to know I don't know much ;) My husband is pretty good with edibles, like grapes. My level of involvement is moderate now with a 1 year old in tow, but I would like it to be high. I like to spend at least 30-60 mins a day, all year, tending to plants, and much more when needed. gardengal48 yes, I have gone through the assessment process with the city, and their selection of fruit trees is limited. They've come and marked where our trees can be. At the end of September a group called Friends of Trees will reveal their available trees (which homeowners help plant). But If I want something different I must go get it myself and apply for the permit. A neighbor down the street works for the urban forestry center, she said she'd fill me in and help me pick out so W trees. So nice! About crepe myrtles, I see them all over Portland, blooming right now, often next to a house so their flowers peak in the windows, or even second story windows. They do seem to thrive in sun or protected courtyards.

Agree that a small outdoor area given over to large dogs in particular = equivalent to zoo exhibit. In other words the impacts from the dogs will dominate how it looks (and smells), how it will have to be managed. Regarding the neighbor the natural choice for a screening planting in your climate and soil conditions is western redcedar (Thuja plicata). With there being an existing landmark sized example visible in the distance, just to the right of your house. And maybe a grouping of currently smaller ones over the fence, behind the two broadleaf trees. Such an installation can be sheared to control size once the desired level of privacy is acheived. As long as the lower sides are kept wider than the upper half, so as to prevent the upper shading the lower too much and making it become thin looking. This is how it usually is with plant choices for hedging and screening - the fast growing ones that provide the desired effect with any level of quickness are also large growing, genetically programmed to grow vastly bigger in time than the typical modern planting site. And the comparatively small growing and naturally tidy kinds often need decades to reach even human head height level.

Thank you both! It has been such a process but I've learned so much along the way and the best part is all my plants look better! I am so grateful for this forum! Katherine, the pots are from Bruning Pottery in Snohomish, WA. I actually drive 40 minutes to shop directly as they offer an additional discount on 2nds! And yes, Rina_Ontario,Canada, the saucers are attached so I will be careful. Thanks for the heads up! Thanks again!