I would start with a ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’ Magnolia on either end of the house. It will provide some nice symmetry, they're evergreen, and sprout great smelling flowers. For some low maintenance, fast growing base plantings there are some dwarf variety miscanthus or fountain grasses that will fill in nicely and sway with the breeze. A cutback of dead foliage is optional in the early spring. Underplanting the grasses with Nepeta (catmint) and lambs ear will provide some good texture varieties and color.

Can you see my big grin? Just planted magnolia and catmint, and am about to purchase the lambs ear! Thanks so much for your advice!

Post an update picture if you can so we all can get the vicarious gratification!

You can add native dogwood (cornus florida) wherever you have afternoon shade. While your trees are establishing you can plant small shrubs in the same general area, then mulch the entire area and give them a good deep watering a couple times a month when it is dry.

Avoid "gardening" with flowers and bulbs in the immediate area of the trees. They need free run of the soil within their tree rings without competition. Tree rings should be made bigger as the trees grow. A lot of gardeners don't realize that grass is serious competition for trees and as a result they make teeny tiny tree circles. I'm sure you're looking forward to seeing your trees grow big and pretty. You can help them do just that!

As you can no doubt tell I am a big time tree lover! I volunteer at an arboretum here in coastal SE Virginia and I hug trees daily.

Enjoy your new home, it is BEAUTIFUL!