The curve is definitely more pleasing. I can't tell where the driveway is located so can't answer your second question.

Curved and if make it a little wider then 36'

Hi housedecorchange...can you go straight from drive into the yard more than curve to the backyard area/patio.here is a quick idea..would add arbor arch just before it turns toward patio area...that way you can see the arbor from driveway and back patio.

Thank you everyone. We added a stairwell in the back of the house to basement.And therefore need to put a retaining wall against the rock wall and a path to the blacktop driveway. Was thinking putting an arbor for climbing rose where the 2 orange posts located. Thx

Funny, this is almost identical to my backyard. It's uncanny. We didn't put an arbour, we put a fence with a door there, and it looks great. Our path is curved just like your first picture and I put bushes on either side of the curve which frames it. I wish I had a picture to share. Your backyard is going to look lovely.

Holly, thanks. Great minds think alike:) could you pleeease upload a pic when you can? How wide is your path? Our front path is 36” wide, contractor is suggesting 48”. we are planning to install a fence if I were to put the arbor abut the blacktop driveway. If we install a pool later. Thx here’s a photo w the driveway.

I have this 'before' picture - our backyard was horrifying. I don't have the 'after' pics because I'm away for a month and I'm sneaking some Houzz before everyone gets up and finds me - lol.

Ignore that shed and that roadway, we bought the house and have since 'hidden' all of that. But our drive way is on the side/front of the house just like yours is, and we have a fence going from the house to that cream color ledge you see which sits on a rock wall, and then along the perimeter of our property, following the grass line all the way down our yard to the lake. And this was 8 years ago so we have trees and giant miscanthus (my favourite for privacy!) in front of the fence that block that roadway and the shed.

So, where my husband is standing at the corner of the house, we put a fence wall with a gate that runs from the corner of the house to that rock wall (you can just see the top of the cream colored concrete). When you come up the driveway, the backyard is blocked off by that gate. You open the gate and then the pathway starts and winds around to the backyard, bushes along the sides of the path...it's like coming into an oasis from the driveway and you can't see it from the street. It's so similar to your layout. Our path isn't 48 inches wide, more like 36". I attached pics that I do have of after, but they unfortunately don't show the path. BUT it shows the after picture where we hid the shed. LOOK at the difference a fence and some trees and plants can make. The path connects from the door in the gate at the side of the house to right where you see the mulch at the right of the picture. We were going to continue the path but I love walking on grass, so the path stopped. I hope this helps a little!!

This is before the fence, see that shed-like building? Notice the after pics you can't see it.

Move in day, this is where we put the fence from the corner of the house to the ledge you see right by the tractor's scoop. There is a door in that part of the fence, when you open it, there is a path that runs from the door, by the guy in the white shorts and over to past the front of the tractor, it is not straight, it winds to the backyard below and then the grass starts.

^Agree, wider pathway at least 42" and better at 48". Curved.

Housedecorchange - see the picture that Dig Doug posted? That is almost exactly the same as our path. If you added a fence from the corner of the house to the rock wall with a door in it, and put a weeping tree where the bush is with the red flowers, it would be almost identical to ours!!!!

Dig dog, thank you so much!!! I love it!! Great ideas! Holly, your backyard view is amazing!

You have the same stone as we do on your driveway. lol! I love it, we used that to continue the path. It's going to look spectacular when it's done.

Hey housedecor !! I love the curve as well . Your project looks great already . I think the place you chose for the arbor looks great too , I would choose the same . It makes it look very welcoming from the driveway area yet close enough to incorporate the patio garden. Please keep us updated on the rose forum ! What roses will you be using ?

Lily, Thanks for affirming my ideas. i have to wait and see which climber grows well in that spot. This spot gets more sun than the front so I have more choices. I might get crown princess of Margaret or anther Gertrude Jekyll( too prickly for kids).