Sounds like a fabulous spot, I'm envious. One suggestion, for the privacy screen, since the area is so natural, I would try to keep it informal and natural as well. Avoid a straight hedge of one type of plant, try to use groups (5-10 or more in each group) of different species, interweaving and overlapping, not in a straight line. Hopefully there is space to accomodate this. Have fun!

You will need to decide if you want evergreen/deciduous, height, and how much maintenance you want to devote to the hedgerow. I like the previous recommendation for a mix of species. On my property, after clearing, natural vegetation such as salmonberry, thimbleberry, & snowberry have regrown to form a thicket or hedgerow, which can be easily cut back if needed.

A mix of serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) and beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) might make a nice, edible, hedgerow with varying heights and textures. Sure would draw the wildlife.

Would Oregon Grape work? I have a "Woodland Glade" area that is natural and I love it! MIne is much drier and shadier than yours though. There are a few Holly trees seeding themselves in it. If yours allows it, the native bleeding heart, trilliums, fawn lily -- all plants that bloom in the springtime and then go dormant in the summer. I'm trying to add to my woodland glade too.

Thanks for the suggestions! Yes, I love my little piece of paradise. Took me months to find just the right piece of land.
I like the suggestion of groups of plants. The hazelnut and serviceberry sound perfect for the spot. I also have Nootka rose and ninebark that I will add to the hedgerow.

The addition of tall Oregon grape would be great also as an evergreen.

Susan

To do battle against Himalayan blackberry, you will want to add evergreens - shading them out will make them weaker. You don't say if this is sun or shade but if it's mostly sunny, consider California Wax Myrtle, Myrica californica. It's fast growing with a great scent (when brushed or crushed). Its fruits will feed many birds. Evergreen huckleberry, Vaccinium ovatum, is one of my favorite evergreen natives, heck, it's one of my favorite shrubs, native or not. It is slow growing but always good looking. Don't forget the lower growing Oregon grape (the tall form sometimes gets "bare knees"), Mahonia nervosa. You could always transplant a few sword ferns there, too. They can tolerate sun and drier conditions more than any other fern. I have seen them in full sun, although that's not what I generally recommend for them.

As for deciduous shrubs to add, these are all great for birds plus they help provide a long season of interest - Indian plum (Oemlaria cerasiformis), red & blue elderberries (Sambucus racemosa, S. cearulea), oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor) and, IMO, every garden needs red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum).

The above are native to the region. To find out more about natives specific to your area, contact the native plant society for Oregon or Washington (I don't know where Grapeview is). The publication listed in the link below includes all of the plants suggested (by others and me), except for the elderberries and beaked hazelnut. Detailed information, such as planting tips and cultural care, is included for each plant.

One last bit of advice - try not to disturb the soil too much to avoid turning up more weed seeds (Himalayan blackberry for sure).

I recall an article about a couple in Philomath (I believe that's the right town, it was in the Corvallis area) who revived and maintained a native meadow on their property. It had great information and tips to do this that didn't include burning as a weed control. It was in The Oregonian, written by Kym Pokorny about 1-2 years ago (maybe longer). I'll bet The Oregonian Archive desk could help you locate it. All I can recall is that the owners found mowing at critical times helped reduce the non-natives and promote the natives. I think it had to do with timing of flowering and seeding (the natives finished first). Mowing helped distribute native plant seeds and discouraged non-natives. Sorry, I can't remember more.

Good luck! Your property sounds idyllic.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Berry Botanic Garden Guide: Gardening for Wildlife, native plant flashcards

Lisa, thanks for the information. I really like ribes and huckleberries myself. I've got lots of huckleberries on my lot, just not on the property line! The neighbor took out the small trees that were growing between our lots - no great loss.

The myrtle sounds good too - in the front third of the lot I have full sun.

I have grown to appreciate Indian plum for its early flowers in March.

The article on the native meadow sounds interesting. I will try to find it.

BTW, Grapeview is between Belfair and Shelton in Washington. It was named Grapeview because the early settlers planted yes, grapevines and had wineries.

I know there's a lot of birds that would appreciate berries.

I have two snags I can't remove because there are pileated woodpeckers. Susan