First off-can you paint the wall green or blue by chance so that the it has less contrast to the plants?

Contractors

anybody have any ideas on possible trees

In zone 8 you could plant a variety of trees. Pear trees have a wide oval shape with fairly dense foliage and spring blooms and last to drop leaves. Medium height Red Maple would give you red leaves; Linden trees have very dense, very full, oval shapes. You would have to plant each species according to its mature height and width, giving each enough room to grow.

http://www.fast-growing-trees.com/Zone8.htm

Seek advice from a local garden center, or from your local county extension office. Oftentimes your extension office will actually have fact sheets recommending plants for specific purposes like this. Extension is funded at the state and county level and is attached to your state's land grant university. It's one of the most under-utilized landscape and garden resources that costs you nothing.

I'd hesitate to suggest anything just based on zone because there are all kinds of localized factors that can mean a plant should do well (on paper) but it'll be a disaster in the ground.

I would paint the whole thing a brown like the wood in both of these ideas and then do one these to really make it an awesome additin to your yard I love the one with the panels because you could add lighting behind them for evening entetaining.

You might want to review your utility easement on your deed before you talk to the electrical utility people when they come out to tell you where it is safe to dig. Trees may need to be planted quite a way out from the meters on the wall. If the meters are read regularly by a person, you'll need to keep access clear.