Photos from the other post:

Back of house

It'll be best to limit discussion to one area such as the front yard, so the thread will not be confusing as to what areas people are talking about.

You need better photos. But based on this photo, I could make a short list of existing-things-that-rub-me-the-wrong-way, circled in red:

1. Victorian lamp heads
2. picket fence at entrance
3. appearance of outbuilding
4. ragged edge of driveway

Now wouldn't it be excellent if you already felt enough of a commitment to removing the fence that you did so before taking pictures? Then it wouldn't obscure the entrance and we could see what you have!

For taking pictures, you should stand about where the yellow lines cross. Then capture the entire view between the blue that runs off to the left and the blue line that runs off to the right, in slightly overlapping photos. The camera remains at that location for all shots and merely pivots. Need to see individual shots, not a panorama made of them.

Then move back about 80' or so feet from where the above picture was taken and take another picture that shows the house at a greater distance.

Say what state and large city you are near.

What are your objectives with the front yard?

Zone 6A simply doesn't have snow from Nov. through March. Perhaps ypu are zone 5A or 4B.

I will take better photos today. We are in Ontario Canada 3 hours north of Toronto. Thanks for taking a look. I'm ready for some change and excited to see things through new eyes!

I made a typo on the zone and it is indeed 5a. Sorry about the confusion. I'll edit the original.

are you using a Canadian hardiness zone map or one based on the USDA methodology? They give different results.... If you are three hours north of Toronto, I doubt you are 5a on the USDA scale, although you may well be that on the Canadian zone maps. I'd guess that you are more likely 4a or 4b in the US scale. Try looking at this map to find your zone using the US methodology. You can look at this map to see the Canadian zone rating.

Yes it was a Canadian map I looked at. I didn't realize there was a difference! On the US map it is the pale yellow area (I don't see a legend anywhere) but I think we are in a harsher microclimate due to elevation. It will be a blizzard here and clear and sunny 10 minutes away on either side by the bays.

The legend should be on the right side. It appears it might be a zone 5 - probably due to 'lake effect' (are the bays you refer to around Georgian Bay?) But you're likely right to assume a colder zone if you are on higher ground and perhaps further from the water. The zones on most plant tags seem to be the US ones so, when you get to the point of choosing specific plants it might be best to look for zone 4 hardiness ratings.

Yes, it is showing us in 5b zone just like you are. (The legend didn't show up on my phone but did on the computer). Georgian Highlands is where we are - a gorgeous part of the world!

We went to try and remove the fence tonight. The previous owner filled the posts with concrete!

Here are some better photos. Wonky mailbox got hit with a snowplow. White is probably not the best colour for it.

Goals are curb appeal, low maintenance, finding plants that will survive the harsh conditions, integrating all into one cohesive plan.

I'm having some issues with photos and my computer but here is what happened today after work:

Here's a close up of the foundation bed. In the summer it has 3 large and happy peonies.

I will try and sort out the other photos that you asked for, Yardvaark and post again.

This is counterclockwise from the front of the house:

There are a few different beds in the front yard.
Our well casing is located in this one:

There is this one which has a silver maple, a climbing rose (which should come out) and some kind of big bush that gets berries.

Then there is the other weeping tree bed with the wheelbarrow.

This area between the carport and shed also needs a plan. We redid the carport last fall and need to grade the area beside it where the machinery chewed up the land. There is a small incline leading to the back yard. I will need to post pictures of that later.

Thanks for any ideas. Just a reminder, that I have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis and need to simplify my gardening activities. Health issues before the diagnosis have lead to things getting a bit weedy and wild. Eventually we may need to move to a smaller property.

Though we're interested in the whole front yard, at the beginning let's focus on the foundation planting area at the front of the house, since a question about hardscape change looms over it. The following photo is from the correct perspective, but I don't think you understand that the camera MUST stay in the exact same location for ALL photos. The camera must PIVOT in order to capture an ever widening scene, with all photos overlapping slightly. Need to see this:

Also, there needs to be a small retaining wall adjoining the slab in order to better accommodate the grade change. Currently it is funky.

One more try! I hope I got it right this time.

#1

#3

#4

#5

And just for fun, one of those wonky panorama shots

SA 2

A drawing like this is not meant to BE your solution because it can't accommodate your specific needs down to every detail, or your budget. It's meant to inspire you insofar as a direction to take. In this case, I'd be wanting to move the steps farther from the door. It's possible they could be added on as I've shown them. If that causes them to protrude too far into the driveway, then they could be set farther into the slab, which would require more remodeling/demolition. Either way, it needs to be coordinated with a small retaining wall. As far as it not looking patched up, it's going to cost more money. There are always trade-offs.

Thank you. That is an interesting idea. Did you dislike the idea of coming up the middle of the front bed instead, with a path off the driveway, and having no steps coming off the driveway?

That seems like a long way to go in order to access the front door from the drive. But not impossible if done right. You've got the lamp post to deal with there.

You could always use porch paint in a light grey color to make 2 separate concrete pours blend in a little more seamlessly.

Yardvaark, most visitors seem to park where the porch starts. We have such a long driveway that I guess they feel they can stretch out. A pathway would be right where they usually stop, like this.

I brought out the new patio furniture I bought at the end of last season for the back deck. What do you think about using it here? Does it maintain an open curb appeal feel? It works well with the current stairs. Not sure how I'd set it up with moving the stairs to front. There's definitely not room to have steps going out into driveway area. Lamp posts definitely need addressing regardless of set up

Cushions are rust

I tried to graph the front of the house. Don't know if this helps but one square = one foot.

Do you NEED/WANT lounging patio at the front entrance or are you trying to make it into something because it's there? There seems room for two or three chairs but I would not have one that cramps the door space. If you can't protrude at all into the drive with steps, then you're left with adding them at the end of the slab (14 1/2' away) or remodeling the slab. Best not to think about plants until hardscape is resolved. Thought I can tell you the 3' bed along the front is too shallow to be practical.

I do want to have a lounging patio at the front because the back deck gets full sun all afternoon and is uncomfortably hot. It's nice to have a second place to go and hang out. What's there is certainly not how I would have built things but I'm trying to see what would be the best set up or if things need to change and at what cost.

Then you must figure how much space you need and if you need to enlarge it. If the slab is remodeled so steps are inset, it will become smaller. If steps are added at the end of slab (by lamp post) then it will remain same size. I would not be thinking that steps are 3' or 4' wide, but are six, since it's only a couple of steps.

I wanted to give an update since this post. We have been working exceptionally hard on curb appeal. The font has been repainted including the bottom trim with sculpted clay by Behr. New facia and eavestrough were installed. The beds have been dug and mulched. My health has allowed me to keep on top of the weeding this year. We have had so much rain that some plants are struggling while others love it. We edged and sealed the driveway (edged since this photo) we decided not to change the front porch but power washed it and left the fence off. The white lampposts are still there but they have hanging baskets and the single post has been straightened.

I have two questions:

1. We never discussed the outbuilding. Today I gave it a little makeover but would like to hear your ideas for it and landscaping around it.

2. We have water running down the hill behind the carport and pooling at the back. What is the best way to direct water around the carport and to the driveway or beside the drive to the road?