I had a similar problem when I bought my home, but the sight lines extended across three lawns. Talk about a goldfish bowl! And was exposed from 2 sides too, not just one. So, I had a crew bring in enough dirt to make mounds, or berm-type raised beds across the two side lines, then planted Virburnum, some tall and narrow evergreens, one swamp oak, etc,. That was 8 yrs ago. My yard is now a bird sanctuary and totally private. The shade increased quite a bit, but I planted mostly smaller trees, like River Birch, Acer Griseum, Sentinental Maple, (which I am not fond of), and understory shrubs. Truthfully, I felt the wonderful sense of enclosure almost immediately. The mounds were straight across the lot lines, of course, but swooped in and out to varing widths within my yard. I will happily send you photos of the before and after, if you want. The virburnums, especially, were nearly instant privacy shrubs. Most are "Chicago Lustre", but for scent and beauty, plant "Korean Spice". There is a lovely summer "lilac' tree too, that isnt some giant. Just right for a small yard, and very good scent in early July. One amazing thing about enclosing ones yard...it actually looks bigger! I don't know that much about spatial views to understand why that is so, but it IS so. I hope you just go for it. Weather its just the back yard view, or all three sides, you will love the results. Pondy

The catalog from High Country Gardens has a number of pre-planned gardens. I hope they will help. Nancy Here is a link that might be useful: High Country Gardens

I recommend getting Mel's book - I got a copy of the original edition for a few bucks on Abebooks.com. Like this He has some basic layouts that I used in planning mine - it's also my first year with the SFG. For instance - in one 4x4 bed with a vertical trellis - 2 tomato plants, one each in a square, and 4 cucumbers (2 per square) all growing on the trellis in the back row. Then a couple of peppers or an eggplant in the middle and smaller plants like radish, carrot, mesclun greens, marigolds, parsley, etc in the front two rows. I think if you follow the spacing guides, and put your taller things to the north, you'll be fine. Plant things you want to eat - and think about how much you'll want of each thing. I planted waaaay too much mesclun greens over the winter and suddenly was drowning in salad. But then it all matured at once, and I wished I had planted crops in succession. I think that's called the learning curve? ;) Good luck!

Thanks y'all The rule is vegetation cannot come over the curb. Bottom line. I started with the plants further back, BUUUUT they do reach for the sun and ended up where they are really happy in bazing hot sun with a passiflora carulea and the china rose Mutablis behind them. To edge the moonflowers would mean me out there cutting off the brances with buds all summer. I've dug out the roots of the older plants, there will be younger plants from remaining seeds. But as sad as it makes me, I'll dig them out. I always give some away, so hopefully I'll find more homes for them. New neighbor really enjoys the view but the city program is simply put complaint driven. To keep her from complaining I could offer NOT to complain that her new section of fence that is 10 ft tall is out of code or I could offer NOT to turn her in for allowing her yard crew to leave bags of trash out a day or two before trash day. Code says they can only be out at 7pm day before. But I really don't want to engage in that. Sooo, I see zebra grass and sedum in my future and Moon flower give away too. I moved the big old roots into the back yard. I guess it's time to change the show. grateful for all the great ideas! cynthia