Opps... premature submission...

This is the after photo taken during the winter pipeline installation showing the grubbed route.

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Previously this area was wetlands and some upland woods that I was content on leaving uncultivated. Now with the area graded and trees felled my modest plain Jane colonial is more exposed and my far away neighbors seem much closer. I have had a change of heart with respect to this area.

The previous forested area helped to ground my house and provide privacy with an array of deciduous branches in winter and canopy in warmer months.

Just when I thought I was nearing completeness, but now I feel like I am back at square one, when the house was new. But this time there are some established plants in place and I have the benefit of this forum for critiquing my plans.

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My goals:
1) Re-plant the cleared area and closer to the house to compensate for what feel was the grounding effect of forested area.

2)More spring and summer screening for my playset area. Currently

3)Minimize the mass of the grey retaining wall and heaviness of the right (backyard) corner of the house. My eye gets directed to my backyard instead of to my front door.

4) Compensate for the "falling" off the slope effect near my front door. The ground is level up to the front door, but then slopes downward beyond the brick stoop.

5) Bring back some native habit and food plants for displaced critters.

6) Compensate for some of the modest and plain features - such as lack of glazing area and repetition on the west wall.

My initial approach is to consider only forms and how they will impact the flow and composition of the landscape.

I am considering additional 15-20 ft tall forms between the two basement windows and off the corner of the house, which will provide more repetition across the house and add mass to the front view. The mass off the basement corner will help to pull down the house and provide framing.

Additional plant volume at the downhill end of the retaining wall and playset/backyard to stop the welcome to my playset view.

Additional plant mass along the expose wall 15-20 (mature sizes) with smaller shrub mass to conceal portions of the retaing wall and step the view down to groundlevel.

Please provide me your feedback and additional thoughts.

The only thing that stands out to me is that the front door is lost. i had to really look for it. Sounds like you already have a plan figured out.
i am confused though. The area infront og the gray retaining wall was cleared by someone else. This suggest you don't own it. how are you going to plant there?
Is that really "your" playset? lol

Well, I do share the playset with my two daughters... But, it really creaks and moans when I sit on the swing ;)

Lots of ideas and explanation in my post, so wanted to free my thoughts by sharing them with others. The area in front of the retaining wall is my land. Pipeline company has right of way over that portions, so they cleared it. Pipeline (fresh water) is being installed, as I type this.

My plan, as such, is still in its formative stages, and I took this weekend to tape off and prepare a plan view of the area. This formative plan is what I am seeking advice on. As you mentioned, the front door previously was partially obscured from that view, which was an issue. My new concerns are the mass of the retaining wall and views of the backyard being a distraction.

Don't spend too much money planiting over the waterline. You own the land, they own the right-of-way and they can come in and rip it up again anytime they want for repairs. Read the easement discription on your deed. Now, with a new waterline, if installed properly, might not need any repairs for 40 years. It is a gamble.

I agree whatever I did i would make sure was inexpensive. Becuase eventually they will rip it out agian. 40 years to @ years when there a leak who knows. That really bites though.

Waterline repairs are the least of my concerns.

This strip of land is a former railroad bed, which may be a future commuter rail-line. At that time, if it comes, the spot the photos were taken from will be excavated and beneath a bridge.

I can't live worrying about tomorrow's train or waterline repair. I want to live in my garden today!

I have to admit that it is hard for me to comment based on the photo given. The barren look is not that great, but I am not sure the wild over grown look was that great either. This is not the angle that I would use to design my landscape. I also suspect that when the remaining trees leaf out it will not look so barren. Is the pipeline below ground?

- Brent

From one extreme to another. As you mention, mid-winter is presenting the most barren landscape, but it also exposes the framework. That is my challenge to work with and around the constraints of the pipe ROW. The pipe will be buried beneath the frost line (>5 feet bgs).