I'm not sure about the dates on the photos, but if they are very recent, then fall is much more advanced in CT than up here in Mass.

I don't post very often, but you may remember my past posting on paradigm change. Taking a property with mature plantings and trees and clearing them out is a very dramatic change to the landscape views, potential functions, and opens up new opportunities. Sometimes there is tree remorse. The regret of why did I do that... it really opens up some thoughs, but it also provides for new beginnings. What new functions does the tree removal provide for this area or is curb-appeal sufficient?

In the abscence of any objectives, I'll provide my thoughts or problem analysis search for 300 lb gorillas.

My first impression of the photos is dominated by the symetery of the house. The foundation plantings seem to address the symetry, but stepping out from the house, the skyline area to the right now seems out balance. It may be due to the season, as there is a decidous tree there with leaf-drop (hence my question about the photo dates). A similar tall evergreen to the right would enforce the symetry too much IMHO and take awhile to mature. That decidous tree might, in leaf, may be able to provide more balance. Not all landscape principles need to be followed all the time in all seansons. This might then suggest a location for more planting forms to the right of the house for balance.

The side-walk is nice and straight, and typically New England frugal and practical. That and the lampost help to direct me one of the two front-doors presented. A nice brick border on the side-walk goign to a landing on the street would re-informce front door decision process and liven up the grey concrete.

Isabella_ma

Sorry, here's more info. Photos taken last Nov., bare trees on right are two old Dogwoods. Blue spruce on left is actually behind the house. On the right near the porch are Rhododendron, a small path, dwarf Deutzia, Pieris, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Hosta, Bleeding Heart. To the right of the lawn are two med. size Doublefile Viburnum and an overgrown Weigela backed by assorted shrubs/trees including Dappled Willow, Clethra, Kousa Dogwood, 2 20x20 foot Yews, another large Norway Maple, Junipers, and an assorted tangle of Juniper, White Pine, Yew, smaller shrubs going back to the far right.

On the left of the lawn is a small (8 ft.) white flowered Dogwood, an Umbrella Pine made lopsided by the shade of the late Norway Maples, and two large Junipers.

I don't need garden or activity space here, and no one uses the front door except for the mailman and Jehovah's Witnesses. My driveway is around the corner and behind the house (corner lot).

The walk is bluestone, installed just for the mailman two years ago. The objective is a fairly low maintenance but attractive front planting. We may sell in the next few years to downsize.

No tree remorse, they were two Norway Maples and a Sugar Maple, all having old storm damage that caused rotting, one splitting, one full of carpenter ants. We cabled, but they still were on their way out and threatening the house and passersby, so they had to go. I had to take out all of the shade shrubs I planted three years ago in a nice low berm in a sea of groundcover as a result, but I won't miss the Norway seedlings or roots, and the woodpile will be very handy this winter.

Here's a lightened photo of the front, more detail may be visible.
{{gwi:49911}}

It doesn't feel like anything is "missing". When I look at your spring photo of the foundation planting, it looks quite complete, especially considering you "don't need garden or activity space here, and no one uses the front door... The objective is a fairly low maintenance but attractive front planting. We may sell in the next few years to downsize." I'd say keep it simple. The house looks very nice from the street, a fresh lawn will make it that much more inviting.

Saypoint, your house looks like something out of a Currier and Ives Print. I agree with catkim. Maybe it looks bare to you because of the "missing" trees and groundcover, but it looks finished to me.
Those windows! Sigh. Can you post another photo when those Dogwoods bloom?
Renee

I agree it doesn't really look like anything dramatic is needed or missing because there are so many mature plantings.

Sounds hokie, but maybe the "pot of seasonal color" or other display by the front door ? This is something that is more "missing" in fall and winter than when the shrubs are blooming, so I can't say it is really necessary, and if done too rinky-dink, would detract rather than help.

Also, although it is a side porch, it does look a bit like you have 2 front doors, despite the declarative walkway, so if I were doing something to tinker, I might somehow introduce some kind of intentional but acceptable asymmetry to the porches that makes the side one look more mysterious or secluded, but not covered up--maybe something that makes it look like you don't really expect folks to traipse across the front yard and up the steps, but someone from inside might come out--if that makes sense--or a sheltering small ornamental tree over that porch.

Less is more here, I think.

Maybe what this calls for is a short simple fence across the front with the gate or opening at the path to the front door. A few simple plantings along the fence could finish it off.

This will keep the more open and sunny look you are now enjoying while creating some sense of enclosure you were previously used to.

amili

Thanks for your thoughts. We actually were thinking of putting a picket fence across the entire frontage (about 280 ft. if I recall) but unless we decide to stay indefinitely, the cost is an issue. The two front doors are wierd. A mid-victorian era wraparound front porch was added to the house, and then the front was removed at some point, leaving the two side portions. The windows were french doors, and in an old photo, the house is shown with a large square cupola and stucco over the brick, all removed long ago.

I was thinking of possibly adding a couple more Dogwoods (my favorite) to frame the house a bit and some informally arrange shrubs in between the lawn and the large trees on the perimeter to add some seasonal interest in the form of flowers and fall/winter color and texture.

One thing which strikes me is that the design seems to be weighted towards the centre of the facade. It may be the effect of seeing it in photographs and not in person. However, given the scale of the surrounding trees, the foundation plantings seem to be very dense: a great amount of interest in a small space (relative). I just get this sensation that the house is being weighed down.

- Audric

Looks nice from the outside, but how does it look from inside the house? Not too exposed to traffic? How much of a barrier do you feel is necessary?

Saypoint, some more thoughts, which are a bit different.

Your slate is not totally blank. There there are existing forms to contend with, and the view cannot be ideal from all viewing angles. Pick the most commonly viewed approach to the house or your favorite view and work to improve the design on that approach. Most likely this may cause the other approaches/viewing angles to be improved as well, but it may not. Pick the best viewing angle and strengthen it, and then block or detract from the others. I mention this, because in the first photo, I see what appears to be seasonal unbalance, but in the second photo the house appears to be more equal mass around the house.

If the first photo is your most desired view, then I would consider some further options. Consider cutting down the blue spruce (in for a penny in for a pound!)backyard.

Establish a lower scale frame of reference using the dogwoods and maybe some evergreens as well for the winter, which will then exclude the blue spruce or minimize it's impact.

Vamping on the picket fence idea-- what about a couple of entry "eyebrow" pillar and step-down fence sections on either side of the walk? Set them back far enough from the outer sidewalk so you can plant some greenery in front of them, but don't build an entire fence. They could be made of white wood to match the trim, or brick to match the house; pillars with a single section of fence, perhaps only 6 ft. or less on either side of the walk, whatever is proportional. It would emphasize the front door without creating a barrier. Some folks might put lanterns, pots, or stone pineapples atop the pillars. Just a thought.

Re: the weight of the foundation plantings, I think you're right. I am not a fan of pointy shrubs, the arbs were here when we moved in. They're leaning out from the house in search of light, and tied to the shutter dogs with rope to keep them from falling right over. I had thought of replacing them with narrower upright evergreens that wouldn't get as wide, or removing them altogether. I was going to photoshop them out as an experiment, but my software is acting up.

The view from inside is naked. A fence would be lovely, but expensive. I also thought about a hedge, not a tightly sheared one, but maybe Viburnum or something kept tidy but not too much so. Or Boxwood left fluffy. A hedge would also keep the neighborhood dog walkers from using my front yard as a toilet.

Small trees would also make the front feel more enclosed, and screen out the houses across the street a bit. They're not unattractive houses, but I don't need to see my neighbor in his skivvies getting the paper, do I?

Here's what it looked like before the trees started falling apart. Not long after this was taken, half the large tree with the white writing on it fell into the road.

{{gwi:49912}}

Is your home a federal? When was it built?

It's kind of a hybrid. Late federal period?, main 2 story section built 1837 (the year Queen Victoria took the throne) in a Georgian style, post and beam construction. I believe it may have originally been a center hall, not sure. Three one story wings were added around 1847-1850 by the second owner, taller windows installed in front parlor and interior walls moved around. The fireplaces are all marble with coal baskets, except for one, there are 7 of the them. It had a cooking fireplace originally, but that's gone. I should put some photos of the interior up with a link sometime. It's said to be haunted.

Sounds like an amazing house. I don't know how well I would cope with the fact that it is rumoured to be haunted, even if I had no personal experience with it myself.

I seem to be leaning towards the sentiment that a general enclosure of the front area would be a good idea. With the old trees, the space defined around the house was a lot smaller and in which the current plantings work a lot better, I find.

- Audric

Nice house saypoint. There probably isn't a house in our city as old as the one you live in. Do show more of it.

I was relieved to find you did not plan the 'arbs', you always give such good advice and personally I'm not loving those. If those were taken out why replace them with anything when you can just keep your very attractive mixed low shrub border showed off so well in your four year old pic.

Even though you have a path leading to your main entrance it is not readily apparant which porch is the "right" one. Is there is a vine you could send up the left corner of your house without damaging the brick that would ground it and add some weight to that side? Then you could frame your right entry porch with something on both sides, maybe even your arbs that would help distinguish it as your main entry. Personally I'd move the steps of the left porch off to the side and add a rail across the front to further enforce that idea.

Maria