And please tell us about where you live.

ummmmm.....just to avoid any confusion, BOTH hydrangeas and camellias are shrubs, so I'm not sure what issues about them Ken may have. In fact, both are listed at the top of the Shrubs forum as related topics - they just have enough popularity and varieties to warrant their own forums (as do a number of other 'shrubs') .

Like I said I'm new to this so I'm still rusty on the terminology. I live in North Georgia, zone 7 I believe. My yard is quite small, just under a quarter acre. The area I am working with for the barrier is about 40 to 50 feet long and about 6 feet wide. I'd like the tallest part of the barrier to be about 6-8 feet tall.

When I wanted to block the view of a neighbor's house, I planted Viburnum pragense. Still seems a good choice, as it does not hang its leaves, like bassett hound ears, the way the more common V. rhitidophylum does. Spelling often iffy. It has worked, but not as wonderfully as I hoped, because the deer found the V. pragense quite munchable in the heart of Winter, and the spot is shady, half the day. Still think it a good choice if you have full sun and no deer problem.

Maybe consider some of the smaller hollies such as 'Blue Maid', Ilex crenata 'Steeds' for the background, then put lower things in front. I'm thinking a dense evergreen shrub/small tree of the back. Camellias will only work in shade, especially japonicas. Sasanquas can take just a bit more sun.

But you don't say whether this area is in sun or shade, part shade. Are you willing to do some trimming/pruning maintenance?

Also, a 6 foot depth is very narrow. One V. pragense will exceed that depth by almost twice.

Hollies in the back and knock out roses for the front... the roses can be a mix of color, add some tall planters here and there to add some other colors like annuals or even perennials that you might like... 6' is not that wide for having 3 big varieties of shrubs... Good luck!!