I put a trellis about a foot away from the house and trained a rose bush on it. Every once in a while, I trim a stray branch. This summer I am going to try clematis behind the garage so just ordered the trellis. Agin I will install it at least a foot away from the house.

Your other choices would be taller bushes.

There should be a large evergreen shrub or conifer there instead of the grasses and the two small shrubs/plants.

There are a ton of native shrubs and small trees that thrive in part shade in zone 5. If you do get a rose (not a good choice for shady Z5), get a Canadian Parkland rose.

@eileen i have tried 2 types of evergreen there and both didn’t do well. 😒

A nice Red Bud would be pretty there. A couple feet from wall.

More than a couple of feet for sure. And if that little tree gets any larger at all, it's going to be much too close to the house.

The existing tree is a pinky winky hydrangea. it shouldnt get much bigger.

what does wveryone think about a utility arch? maybe grow some dhade tolerant variants of pole brans or something

I have a problem area where it's shady all day and then the sun comes in about 2-6 pm. I can't find any plant that likes those conditions. The leaves and flowers burn on shade plants and sun-loving plants get very few blooms.

Garden art is an option but you need something tall and most of what is online is made in China. I saw in an artist's garden where she painted 4 x 4's. She used three of them in varying heights and surrounded them with plants. I loved it. There are lots of examples online--google garden totems, garden poles, or peace poles--but you are paying a premium for the artist's work. I'm not an artist but I could turn out something by copying someone else's inspiration.

Instructions on how to create them.

https://patinaandpaint.com/garden-pole/

I think a combination of a small tree a little ways out from the planting bed area (redbud, serviceberry, pagoda dogwood, etc.) combined with either shrubs or perennials that get some height along the wall. Joe Pye Weed and goatsbeard are both native perennials and would give you height in summer/fall, but if opting for shrubs I might try a group of rhododendrons there as they can get taller with a relatively small footprint, and they retain their (curled up) leaves over the winter for some added visual interest.

Info for using a vinyl fence post instead of wood.

https://www.scribblingwithspirit.com/2015/01/diy-peace-pole-for-garden-art.html