Guys, thanks for the responses. It's obvious I'm a newbie at this. From reading some of the other threads, I was obviously initially thinking in terms of "gardens" instead of "overall design". As far as the photos, would it be helpful if I (well, actually the hubby; he's the photographer) stood in the middle of the lawn and got a medium shot of the whole house? Or should I take a shot from the neighbor's driveway to get more of a wide angle? Obviously, everything will be less distinct, but from reading the threads, I'm beginning to see that's what it's about. Not necessarily individual plants but overall impression. (Am I right about this?) Brent to answer your questions - I'd like a bed along the driveway for a few reasons. First, I think flowers are nicer than lawn. And there will still be a lot of lawn left. Once I put up a better wide shot, you'll see that it easily extends another 40 feet or so to the right of the driveway. Second reason is that I take care of the beds, so they look good. DH takes care of the grass so they tend to look like crap. (And don't suggest a lawn service, my oldest is off to college in the fall. I'm broke, lol.) Third reason is I thought it would be nice to soften the look of the driveway. What your seeing in picture 5, Brent, is the middle of my house from the street. The flower bed in the foreground is the same cottage garden shown in pictures 3 & 4. In the background is the garden that's shown in pictures 1 & 2. The picture was taken around 5:30 - 6PM, so everything looks a bit washed out. Saypoint, you are absolutely right that the foundation plantings are overgrown, they are in the provess of being cut back. However, your comment makes me wonder if some of them shouldn't be removed and replaced? When I post more pics, you'll be able to see better, but the previous owners planted a lot of items that I don't think belong in a foundation planting. For example, to the right of the door (which you can't currently see), they planted a hemlock. It's a gorgeous tree, but I believe it's mature height is 30 feet which means every few years I have to pay for my tree person to come and bring it back within bounds. Anyway, enough rambling. I guess my main question at this juncture is what types of pictures would be most helpful? Way back, wide angle shots? Or something different? Thanks in advice for helping the clueless woman.

Pieris's common name is Japanese Andromeda. They can be problematic in a lot of sun, but are very useful and easy to grow in shade (morning sun fine). I also have some dwarf ones.. 'Little Heath' is barely 2'x2' after 3-4 years. It is variegated. Doesn't bloom well, but I grow it for the foliage. 'Cavatine' is even smaller and solid green. It does bloom well. Prelude is another dwarf. And a good full size (4-5') traditional one is 'Mountain Fire'... new growth is bright red. Clethra 'Hummingbird' is supposed to be "compact", but it does spread quite a bit. Probably too much for a foundation. Mine is in bloom now and the fragrance is just wonderful! There is another Clethra that is *really* supposed to be a dwarf...'Sixteen Candles'. I just added it to a perennial border this year, so can't tell for sure. SOme of these smaller plants might work well as a front layer to larger plants. Its preferable to not have a single row of plants straight across. I like to layer smaller shrubs in front of the back row and include some perennials too. I've tried hypericon twice here and both didn't make it. its borderline northern MA/southern NH

Your link didn't work for me, but one suggestion I have, a lot of the paint manufacturers have an app on their site where you can try their different colors on a sample house and see how they look. For instance, behr.com, glidden.com, etc. If they have a picture that is relatively similar to what you have, you can narrow it down to the color families you like.When you get it narrowed down, buy the sample containers of paint and try it on the wall. It's really difficult to pick a color successfully from a little chip.

The idea that it is better to plant a variety of plants instead of a single plant type when creating a border/hedge/screen is tossed about all the time (frequently here) and the justification is fear of disease. Personally, I think the actual instance of this happening is so low that it is negligible and a non-issue. I believe that the real motivation behind it is plant-lover's desire (or obsession) for variety and since people want to hear what they want to hear, this seems like a bonafide clinical justification. Nevertheless, there is good reason not to plant a variety of plants when creating a border, hedge or screen: good, clean looks. How many people plant different types of lawn grass if variety is so important in a single yard? Take your pick and do as you please. I would like to toss out another way to create a screen that is cheap and easy ... cheaper and easier that constructing trellises of lattice. Here are two ways, of which the first (chain and twine) is the method I generally prefer, as it is cheapest and easiest. One could make single sections only a few feet long, or extended runs that cover tens of feet. (Naturally, in a run of trellis like this, one must brace corner and end posts just as they would with a fence.) In the picture below it is covered with annual vines (moonflower vine) so the coverage is quick ... about 6 weeks from planting seed. Obviously, with annuals, there's not going to be any screening effect once the plant dies for the winter. I use annuals for quick coverage and also plant a perennial vine for permanent coverage. Even a deciduous perennial vine can create some degree of screening when it has no leaves. Each vine has its own personality so one needs to pick accordingly. In most cases, where the vine meets grass lawn, it is the lawn mower which does the trimming. If such a trellis were planted a few inches inside the existing chain link fence, vines would also "eat" the fence, covering it completely.