Thank you for the suggestions above! It looks like both the desert peach or desert apricot in some ways, but I think it may be closer to the peach photos I am seeing. Thank you again for helping me identify it! :)

Redbuds cast a great deal of shade and often make it impossible to garden under them for that reason. They don't get too tall, but their branches will eventually strike the house at the distance you are contemplating. Serviceberry has the nice drooping florets and later the delicious berries that many birds love, so you could observe them feasting on them close up if a window looks out on that spot. It does well in partial shade and seems fairly adaptable; I see no reason why you couldn't keep it in shrub form if you are able to find one trained that way. However, I had some revert to small-tree form when I failed to keep them clipped, so you may be able to find a more trouble-free shrub for next to your house, and save your serviceberry planting for along your driveway or other opening from the woodsy areas. Pieris Japonica comes in many forms these days and is an interesting shrub that grows fairly slowly, so requires little attention. Some of the larger Rhododendrons would also do well in that spot, and the color choices and flower forms are wonderful. Of course Forsythia would also grow there, and there are several size choices. Witch Hazel is often difficult to get established, especially if it is a graft. It has a wonderful fragrance when the tiny flowers appear, but it grows very slowly and takes a long time to fill out, in my experience. If you don't mind thorns you could try Bitter Orange, but eventually it will probably crave more sun. The flowers have a nice fragrance and it has beautiful dark shiny leaves...but it also grows quite slowly. The hazelnut tree or shrub is not often thought of but is worth checking into. There is probably not enough sun for a lilac but the hibiscus can tolerate more shade and has flower choices that range from white to a soft pink to a lovely lavender color. All that said, Viburnums are available in many kinds, and the viburnum in any form makes a good wood that stands up to abuse quite well; they are one of the sturdiest shrubs out there, imo, unlike the hydrangeas, which make a very soft stem. However, oak leaf hydrangeas are capable of eventually getting fairly large, and have the interestingly shaped leaves and flower clusters. I believe their color change in fall is also attractive, and they do quite well in partial shade. Here is a link that might be useful: Pieris Japonica references

Looks like a fernleaf to me. They are early bloomers and usually the first ones up in the spring. Well established fernleaf peonies will form a very nice bush that is long lived. Native peony, they come up looking like a Dr Suess character from " If I Ran The Zoo" IMO. They like old dirt too..... :) Ginny

Hi Hollywood. Congrats on the new house! I too bought a house on the island within the last couple years, but my yard is only 100' deep (average), so I greatly envy your 200' yard. After moving it, I pulled up almost all of the previous owner's plants. She had plants that I don't care for, like rhododendrons and azaleas -- things I consider 1970's long island. You asked for recommendations, so... TREES: I have two dogwoods on my lot, and they suffer from powdery white mildew which begins in June and makes the trees somewhat unsightly by August. If you want a dogwood, go for a kousa dogwood. I planted an Eastern Redbud, which is a small flowering tree native to Long Island. I also planted a Kwazan Cherry, which is very happy and growing quickly. Yoshino Cherries are gorgeous, and most pears, plums, and crabapples are very happy on LI. Don't plant any maples (other than japanese maples), because their roots make it very difficult to plant anywhere around them. SHRUBS: Eunymus are everywhere on LI and most are evergreen. I planted several Eunymus 'Silver King' and I love them, but they are a little "played out". Hollies do well, most cedars and cypress do well... LI's climate is really conducive to growing most shrubs, as our climate very moderate especially thanks to the ocean. You can use tall ornamental grasses instead of shrubs, and leave the dry tall grass over the winter, cutting it down in April to regrow. PLANTS: Take a trip to some local nurseries. Atlantic Nursery in Freeport is nice but pricey. Hicks Nursery in Westbury is amazing, definitely go there if you haven't been. I like Cipriano in East Meadow. And of course, the big box stores -- Lowes in Nassau County usually have much better plants and varieties than Home Depots. They're worth a visit. These plants have really taken off in my yard: hostas of all types (like June, and Liberty), heuchera (like Stoplight and Berry Smoothie), Caryopteris 'Snow Fairy', Heliopsis 'Loraine Sunshine', Crysanthemum 'Gold and Silver', several kinds of Artemisia, all kinds of daffodils, ... I could go on and on. The only plants I've really had problems with are plants susceptible to mildews, both white and black spot mildews.... I think our summers are just too humid for some plants. My best suggestion is to go online, visit all the best online sellers (Bluestone perennials, American Meadows, White Flower Farm, etc) and go shopping, and figure out what you like. Drive around and visit neighbors, and pay attention to other people's yards. You can create anything you like. A bbq area, a deck, patio area, a firepit area, a pool with tropicals like elephant ears, canna, and caladium (I love all three of those btw)... whatever you envision. Good luck and keep us updated!