I take it this garage is on the property you are renting and will be for your use? If so, this is my idea.

Go to one of the box stores (or online) and look for a water feature you can mount on the garage wall across from your window. Then do your plantings around this feature to soften up the rest of the wall. If there's room you can turn this area into an outdoor seating area for meditation and relaxation with the soothing sound of running water. Good place to go to read and relax and nice to see while working at the kitchen sink.

In the remaining 5' left between the garage and the house, will you need to retain some sort of access path? What is on either end of this passage? You may have less space to plant if this will be a frequently-travelled area.

- Audric

The wall water feature is a great idea. A trellis with climbing something may work too.

How much sun does this strip get?