The plan strikes me that it would be fussy to care for, where simplicity is replaced with contrivance. Many of what could be strong artistic statements, are traded for a "Candyland" type look. I suffer with a long time back injury myself, so I would not be looking for ways to make things more complicated, which ends up requiring more work. The trade-off does not mean that there can be no interest. To the contrary, I think simpler, bolder statements have more power. Starting with the bed line, it is snakey and wiggly. Smooth, long curves would do the job much better. (I would like to give you some visual feedback by drawing over the top of your plan, but I'm away from home and from my computer for a few more days. If you bump this thread to the top on July 27, it would remind me to do that.)

At the acute angle corner of the back yard, I think it would be better not to have a path dipping deeply into that angle. Instead of creating a space for going into, just having a space for viewing would be sufficient.

Opposite the patio, the landscape bed is widening out, pinching the lawn space fairly tightly. It would be better for the opposite to be happening where the lawn space is widening and the landscape bed is narrowing. Of course, this would be part of the curvature of the overall yard/beds.

Yardvaark, thank you for taking the time to review my post and comment. I do agree with you that the plan is fussy and needs editing. I would appreciate any suggestions/input you are willing to offer.

In reference to the acute back corner, I think the plan may be a bit deceptive as to its size. The center circle is only abt 10' - 12' in diameter with a 5' strip of grass encircling it. In the center is a 5' high piece of sculpture which I inherited from a great aunt.

This corner is where 4 properties converge and there are multiple out buildings and etc. which I would like to hide. The corner seemed the perfect spot for the sculpture, if I could create a background which obscured the unwanted view. The included photo is a the back corner, it's an old photo. It's raining here so couldn't take one from further back. My entire lot is only .49 ac.

I will bump the post later in the month as you requested. Thank you again.

I understand what you are saying. Looking forward to your suggestions.

Yardvaark, are you still active on this forum? I never go back with you due to illness/surgery and an extended recovery. Would very much appreciate any "visual feedback" you are willing to offer, if you have the time. Thank you.

Sorrry to hear about your predicament. I hope the back surgery helped!

Is the circular driveway existing or proposed? Could you show a wide view of the house front .... slightly overlapping pictures where the cam is lined up with front door, from lot line to lot line? That would be a good place to start.

I'm doing much better, thank you.

It is existing, sort of. It was well established filled with bark but the grass has filled it in. Will be having redone this fall. I will get you some photos and post them.

So the circular driveway is not a paved area? It looks like its leading to an area right of your house, but not to the house. If it's not paved, are you committed to it?

I would love to see any suggestions you have including possibly changing driveway. There is very little set in stone at this point other than the crepe myrtles across the front and shrubs on left and right property lines. Here are photos, let me know if you would like any other photos. Thank you!

By my suggestions I'm not purporting to have worked out all the issues. I'm just suggesting some changes -- as an example -- that I think would make it a more organized and easier to "read" landscape.

Probably the main thing I'd do is massage the circle drive to being more in front of the house, which would make it look like it is the main entrance point/path for the house. I think its position relative to the house is more important than it being a perfect "D"-shape.

Even if planted plainly, which I don't think is the intention, the bed lines going to look distracting. Smoother bed lines would be easier to view and easier to maintain. You could still fill the beds themselves with all kinds of plant excitement ... even busying it up if that's what you like, but it would still look more civilized if the bed lines are clean and simple.

The same principle applies for walks. They will seem less distracting to the overall flow if they are simple of curve.

Again, I'm just trying to give you an example. You could evolve the plan many times over according to your latest thoughts and parameters. It's an ambitious plan. Good luck on implementing it as it would be an awesome transformation.

Thank you very much for the suggestions. I agree, this makes much more sense. I hired someone to do the plan, and I like aspects of it but don't care for the "business" of the plan. I think sometimes beds which are understated are much more appealing to the eye.

It is an ambitious project, which I will work on over a long period of time as time and funds allow.

Would you mind if I periodically picked your brain for planting suggestions in specific areas or asked further questions? For example, the area on the far right-hand side of the house with the plain flat wall. It needs something to camouflage all that blank space. I was thinking about planting additional white Crepe Myrtles like those planted across the front of the property. It would look very similar to your rendering. Would this be a good choice or too much repetitiveness?

Thank you again.

It is fine to ask later about planting issues. Whenever you do, try to include an overlapping-picture spread of the area, taken from straight on, and from not too far away, so I can clearly the area you're talking about.

If I was picking plants I would not do white flowering crapes in front of a white painted house. It would lack pizzazz. I wouldn't even do a very light pink. Instead, I'd pick a color -- any color that can work with your scheme -- that has some contrast. Or, in front of the blank wall it could be any number of large flowering shrubs -- as a small "forest" -- so you get the interest of trunk display in front of the wall.