Wonderful house! First, decide how natural or formal you want the yard to look, and how high-maintenance. You can usually get free landscape planning from larger nurseries, such as Meadows Farms, and they can plant the larger items for you at a discount.

Beautiful home. Sounds like a good reason to take a slow Sunday drive around the neighborhood and look at some of the natural beauty you find there.

I would add seed and soil under the Oaks to get the grass to grow. Make sure you get a shade tolerant seed mix so it can deal with living under the Oak canopies.

Any chance you can widen the pathway? It seems narrow and not comfortable enough for two people to pass one another going opposite directions. 4'-5' is preferable. Any chance you could add a pathway to the driveway as well? It would be nice to not have to walk on the lawn.

Other than the Dogwood, the Oaks and the large trees at the sideyard you need a little bit more height in your garden to combat the height of the home. And you could use something with a bit of seasonal interest like Evergreen or Broadleaf Evergreen. Even Beech trees tend to keep their leaves well into the winter months. Maybe low growing evergreen like Dense Yew closer to the house. Specimen tree on the left-hand side. Bring plants beds off the house so it doesn't look like you've just jammed all your shrubbery up again the foundation of the house.

Sounds like you are a gardener so I would do shrub and perennial planting, but maybe leave larger calliper trees and stonework up to the pros. Good luck!

I've always wanted to plant the whole front yard and ditch the grass. Little by little. I like the idea of widening the path. Natural stone with either grass or flowering thyme between is beautiful an economical (see pic) Prior comment is so true. Too many "professional" landscapers plant right up against the house and they use way too small plants like yours. I would do mulch beds under the lovely trees-they don't like to compete w grass and it is an easy way to limit lawn care. http://houzz.com/photos/3420451

You have such a lovely home! I'd definitely recommend adding some evergreens to the mix. Whether it's some boxwood, yews or euonymus, the house needs some winter interest. This also would help with adding some structure to your landscape. Good luck!

Try symmetrically planting a shade loving flowering low groundcover in rows on either side of your path. Add something low evergreen in a zig zag all the way across the foundation plantings that you have now / underplant in front so it will be thick and fill but lower than the flowering specimens that you have. The points of a zig zag allow them to fill and mass but have a natural flow . . something you won't have to shear is best . .max 42" high ish. At the base of the lantern, cut out a big circle, and behind, add one more evergreen . . .very close so it will sort of backdrop and grow to fill . then in front, low flowering groundcover. I would use three different low flowering groundcovers so I had flowers different times of the year and repeat these in front of the other evergreens . . massing one color at the light post, one near the walk and another along the foundation lines . . . between the walk and the street, repeat the one that is up along the foundation / house . . and abandon grass there . . . mulch underneath . . your classic house is rustic enough with its cobble edge drive . . mulch under the tree areas . . don't try to "shape" it

Great ideas from all. Glad I asked! - - I do want to widen the walk in the future but it will likely be at least a couple of years before that happens. I'll definitely be adding the evergreens and flowering groundcover mentioned.

Haven't read all of the above comments though....
If you could add a patio...possibly would be a great usable feature!
Symmetry is the key & as you mentioned widening the walkway helps.
Good luck

Also another light post on the other side of the walkway will enhance symmetry

Would definitely replace sidewalk with nice red brick or paver. Is it possible to add columns to your portico ? I would ditch the light. Add two ornamental trees on each side of the walkway, red evergreen azaleas next to the foundation and taller Korean dwarf lilacs on each side of them. Curve a bed on each side of the walk and fill with seasonal color-long-blooming perennials and annuals. Add topsoil around the large tree near the sidewalk and plant a shade-loving groundcover. Sod the lawn. My 2 cents worth.

Widen the sidewalk; it looks very utilitarian, as do the concrete(?) steps. Definitely add columns to the portico to let it make a statement. Get rid of the railings (not required by code, usually if it's only 4 steps or less). If you want railings, moved them out on top of the edge of the stairs to make them seem wider (and make the railings heftier). Stain the steps or put a tile/stone veneer on them.

I'd add a second light post on the other side of the walkway, but halfway between the current one and the house. And I'd plant an asymmetrical bed down each side of the walkway that envelops the lights at the base and then spreads out across the front of the house. But I'd keep the walkway straight. I love nandinas, but that seems to be the wrong place for them--they are really sparse (not enough light on the north?). I have them in my back yard in downtown Philly, and one cluster is over 10 feet tall and full down to the ground. You should have an easier time down there.

I would also remove the shutters from the top center window. They are clearly not functional (they don't fit the windows that they are next to; the others might also not be functional, but they look like they could be--the center ones don't). I'd make that window a single unit instead of 2 side-by-sides. Make it distinctive in a way that doesn't look like it needs shutters.

I think a new larger sidewalk that matches the style of your home would do the trick. Brick pavers, new grass and some flower beds should work! :)

R311.7.8 Handrails.

Handrails shall be provided on at least one side of each continuous run of treads or flight with four or more risers.

International Residential Code

Ooooo! Plant trees along the path way! That'll look great during the spring time and during the winter season! You can decorate those trees with fairy lights at night to make them glow and look pleasing to the eyes :D

The walkway is too straight to my liking. I like curves. Here's my idea book on walkwayshttp://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/20409955

Gorgeous house. Love the color outside and the roof and front door. Very lovely. I would add my voice to those clamoring to change that walkway: wider and with one curve that will balance the little addition to the left of the house. Your house will look better with no foundation plantings and some big beds anchored by a few small native trees. In a north facing front you can always do dogwoods, and hydrangeas. Masses of hydrangeas would look absolutely adorable there. Instead of that sad looking grass you could do massive planting beds with just a little bit of grass. Keep the beds rather formal and almost symmetrical. Hostas and liliturf.

some links to masses of hydrangeas

[houzz=https://www.houzz.com/photos/merry-mount-traditional-landscape-atlanta-phvw-vp~5838410-Mount-traditional-landscape-atlanta]

[houzz=https://www.houzz.com/photos/north-arlington-residence-traditional-landscape-dc-metro-phvw-vp~1325560-Arlington-Residence-traditional-landscape-dc-metro][houzz=https://www.houzz.com/photos/north-arlington-residence-traditional-landscape-dc-metro-phvw-vp~1325551-Arlington-Residence-traditional-landscape-dc-metro]

Easy on the symmetry: it can be a bit much: http://houzz.com/photos/2595358

Thanks again for the ideas / suggestions. I agree on the sidewalk comments... Needs to be wider, different materials and could use a curve or two. Unfortunately, we won't get to replacing it anytime soon. The landscaping will have to do for now.

The portico and steps are 99% original. They will remain unchanged with the exception of lighting. The lanterns on either side of the door will be replaced with a center hung fixture of some sort.

Some sort of shutters were likely present originally but definitely not as currently installed. They are a little further down on our to-do list.

I like the Hydrangeas but have always wondered what they look like in the winter. Are they normally cut back during the winter months?

Nandinas - I'm just not a fan of them. We have some others that will remain but the ones on the front corners will likely go.

Ground cover - any experience with jasmine minima?

Love hydrangeas but they are bare in winter. They do well on the north side of a home. Nandinas - I can't tell you how I've fought to get rid of them. Azaleas are nice. For a climbing evergreen try clematis armandii.

Hydrangeas keep their stalks up and the flowers dry quite prettily in the winter. mixed with some rododendrums should do very well. astilbes and hosts with ferns always look wonderful.

Before I knew what it was, I called my hydrangea my "snowball bush". All white & it keeps the little dried flowers all winter long! :0)

@ Corby...Greetings from one Old House Owner to another!!

If there is anly one bit of info I can pass along...please visit this site with any old house related questions. https://www.wavyglass.org/

The members there have collectively done every possible old house repair you can ever imagine. From wiring to plumbing to plaster...those folks can & want to help you! Nothing you ask is inconsequential & nothing will surprise them either!! :0)

Congrats on your home...she's a beauty!

one trick i had ... back in the day ... presuming there are there similar houses in your neighborhood .... is simply to snap pix of what you like ... most peeps who have a nice garden.. are willing to allow you take some pix ...

then.. there is a NAME THAT PLANT FORUM... as well as perennials ... trees.. shrubs.. etc ....

im reading into your walkway comments.. that this is not going to be an instant gratification checkbook job [all the power to ya.. if it is ....] .... but as a homeowner ... if you think of it as a collection.. you can spend a few years ... making your goal happen ....

which also kicks back to snapping pix of what you see and like.. over the whole growing season ... as with say.. flowering trees of shrubs ... you might want some that bloom early.. and some later ... and the same idea with perennials ...

to start this process ... you need.. again.. to look around.. and you have to establish a few goals ... and then move forward toward those goals ... right now.. your only goal is that you want something ... so once you can.. in words.. define your goal ... then you are moving forward ...

most peeps would tell you to start with your backbones ... which might be defined as long lived trees ... bought small .. you needs years to get them going ... so you start there ...

then you decide how to deal with the height of the facade of your house ... a straight low line of petunias .. isnt going to make a long term wow factor ... again .. i did this by roaming the neighborhood ...

btw .... trees have a very specific planting time .... they are NOT planted in the summer ... what i call the heat of summer ..... just for the heck of it.. i will link to a p[lanting guide below ... its a good general primer for any plants .. not just trees and shrubs .... so if you can not get some trees in very soon in your area ... then you would make plans for fall ... professionals can get away with doing such thru summer ... but if this is neophyte DIY job ... time it out properly

one thing for sure.. i would work on getting that lawn moving ... thickening.. etc ...

btw .. if it ever warms up ... take a lawn chair out to the curb.. perhaps an adult beverage or two ... and just sit out there and stare at the house for an hour or so .... just take it all in.. look at what you might want to hide .;.. look at your house.. how someone else does ...

btw .. what are all the things on the roof ... vents???

see you in any of the forums i mentioned above ... and.. good luck

ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub

ken_Adrian...Those things on the roof are snow guards. They prevent the sudden release of great gobs of snow or ice from the roof, both for safety and to keep it from ripping the gutters off. They are much more common in the northern states than Virginia.

2015 Dilemma!