Feeling your pain on the cold- snow due here this evening. Plan your yard the way you would if the space was indoors, and think in terms of long sight lines to make the most of the length. If you grill out a lot, put a dining table area near the grill for your outdoor dining space. Next to it, a seating area, or perhaps some lounge chairs with side tables. Perhaps add a tree or two for shade- not too large, and plant around them. Soften the fence with low plantings as well as items trained up the wall. Add a small fountain, perhaps some bird feeders off in the distance so you can listen to them singing, and your zen is almost in place!

Use that lattice for a screen around the mechanical units and paint it to match house. Add angled and or curved planting beds on either sideline yard to create diagonal movement. Use a garden hose to plan shape to edge with stone or metal edging. Plans mix of perennials and herbs of varying heights with space for a veggie plants. Use ornamental trellis or obelisk instead of tomato cages. Add a tiny arbor or pergola to hang a porch swing in the back of the yard. Or move your hammock to enjoy a different view where you might have shade as your trees mature. If you add another tree consider carefully its mature canopy size and where it will shade your house. Add some colorful pots of easy care plants to your patio and bright cushions and maybe an umbrella. If you are like most of us you can't do it all at once, so do a few thing each season. You might start with a few cheap seeds for morning glories to climb strings attached to fence and zinnias and sunflowers to fill beds while the perennials( hopefully passed on by neighbors and friends) get established. Take time to enjoy your patio and it will give you lots of ideas.