I think you should have an arbor swing if you want one. There are 1001 ways you could design your back yard that would look great. The possibilities are literally endless. A backyard should be a haven from the stresses of everyday life and if a swing relaxes you, you should include one. I would definitely angle the swing between the end of the privacy fence and maple rather than back it up to the fence. This adds to the idea of creating a "room" that incorporates the porch. I also think the shade from the tree will be peaceful in the summer. I don't think you have the room you need for an arbor swing in front of the fence. I would leave the magnolia for now. Work on other things and move it later if needed. Now for the fence. Although a row of hedges sometimes works, I think a backyard should be more varied, lush and carefree. There are so many great plants to choose from and add interest, why limit yourself to just one? I personally would start by adding a small flowering tree or a very large shrub about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way down the fence. It's not just the fence that you want to block, but also the house. A pretty tree would draw your eye away from the house. Dogwood, Plum or Sweetbay magnolia come to mind. I would make the beds 4-5 ft. except I would curve it out even more where the tree is. I would continue the bed all the way around past the swing and a little past the maple. Along the fence I would choose something along the lines of azaleas, Korean boxwood or Juddi viburnum. Use variety, but in any one place plant several of the same shrub and stagger them. You do not need shrubs that are 6 ft. tall to hide the fence. If you landscape it right you won't even notice the fence because the landscaped bed will be so alluring. In front of the shrubs I would use a vareity of perennials. Choose 3-5 varieties that you like and plant them in groupings of the same type. You don't want a hodge podge of too many different things because then you loose the impact of each kind. Definitely plant hostas around the maple. Use ones of different sizes and colors. In summary: Plant a tree in front of the fence to be a focal point. Use punctuated variety with your plants. Create an entire sanctuary in your back yard, not just a view blocker. Use curves everywhere...bed outlines and plant placement. Almost forgot the roses. I would wrap another bed directly around the porch if there's room and enough light.

I would definitely go with the picket fence(the negative curve one is lovely too), I think it fits with the rest of the atmosphere and would keep your gorgeous pup in. I just have to say, I absolutely LOVE your garden, its just beautiful. May I ask what flowers are spilling out of the window box in the second picture of your very first post? I've been looking for something just like that for my window box and nothing has seemed to fit the bill, TIA!

I am sorry for your loss of your dear pet cat, it is obvious how much you love her. As for roses, for a rich re-blooming purple rose, I think you could do no better than "Reine des Violettes" it is not like most H.P.s in that it's bloom size is smaller, c. 3 inches wide, and the bloom style shows a pertness that the larger blooming Hybrid Perpetual roses which produce large "cabbage" shaped roses, don't show. It is of a rich purple color with violet-red hues, the red shows more in weeks of warm weather. It is also fragrant and smooth stemmed. R. D.V. has smooth whippy canes that are easy to train on an arbor, or peg down to the ground so that the entire cane is wreathed with roses. Of all the Old Garden Rose classes H.P.s are among the easiest to train or peg, because many of them have pliable canes. In Northern California its' canes grow to be c. 6-7 feet long, and arch over near the top. I don't know your climate zone, but I'd expect it to grow to c. 5 feet tall in summer if you must hard prune in winter. It is also a graceful plant with pretty foliage. "Renae" is a pink rose with lilac shading and mostly thornless. The fragrance is alluring when it shows up in the right weather, it reminds me of a blend of floral scents with an end scent note of watermelon. It grows to be a short climber where I live, c. 6-7 feet tall. "Renae" has a growth habit and foliage which are similar to that of a Hybrid Musk. I grow 'Lavender Dream" and it is a big bushy branching plant that can be grown against a fence, but is not a true climber. In Northern California it grows to be c. 5' feet tall in summer, if hard pruned in winter. It is about 95 % pink and 5% lilac, here but in a cooler climate the lavender hue could be a bit stronger. Best wishes in choosing a memorial rose for your beloved kitty, Luxrosa.

Thanks Duchesse - it is good to remind me about the overall look of a rose bush - it is way too easy to get carried away by how pretty the flowers are and forget about the rest of the greenery! lol Hubby and I are changing our minds by the minute as to the direction we want to go for certain, but have some lovely specimens to consider for sure! I personally like the somewhat more wild look compared to the pristine hedge - so maybe seafoam as a groundcover somewhere would be a good thing... Angelcub: Thanks so much for the recommendation - and the links to your gardens! WOW!!! Some gorgeous specimens there. I think I may need to move to California (or next to you / Pappu or some other master gardener...wait, on second thought - my modest efforts look much better next to people with ever green shrubs... lol) What is 'Arnold'? It's gorgeous. :) Rebecca