We can only see the bottom of the house, Giving valid input requires seeing the whole house wall. For the perimeter portion of the yard, you need to show the whole scene, including background. You'd place the camera at the center, back wall of the house and take a series of slightly overlappingphotos that pan from far left to far right -- so we can see the whole yard. A little of the house would show in the first and last photos.

Thanks, Yardvaark. That wall is the garage - so it's not very important; just one window and a door. I am standing on the back deck facing the backyard in these photos. That's important because I would want to make what I see from my back deck the focal point, not the house itself - I'm more interested in 'my view' since I spend a lot of time sitting on the back deck. :-) Photos 1, 2 and 3 are actually close to a pano (looking from right to left). I live in-town so all you would see in a full background shot isn't too appealing -- a bunch of old houses fairly close to one another - as you can sort of see in photo 1 and 3 - so my little 'oasis' is all that I want to focus on. :-)

Are you just looking for plant suggestions for the already laid out beds?

Yes, Yardvaark! I did forget to mention that, didn't I. :-) I would like suggestions for the [a] one raised bed (right), [b] the bed with the mini-pond in the center (with slate 'wall' around it) [although that is in shade for much of the day - so I probably can keep much of what is there: the lily pond, ferns, one large bleeding heart, and some hostas], and [c] the bed that runs the length of the fence on the left - which should include one tall bush/grass to camouflage the mismatched fence area - along with keeping the blueberry bush. That area does have a huge bleeding heart bush - which I doubt will make it this year now that it has so much sun. It is beautiful and old so I may try to transplant the shoots into the 'b' bed in the spring - would I do that as soon as it starts to sprout in the spring, YardvaarK?

Again, my focus would be on 3 season plantings so there are lots of flowers from late spring to fall - with as many pollinators to attract bees and butterflies as practical. Most should be plants that can be purchased at local quality garden centers - in NJ - although I will also consider a few that need to be purchased on-line (but, again, in the past my success rate has been about 10%).

I look forward to your thoughts, Yardvaark!

With the occasional exception, the exact plant(s) that one should use is usually something I'm reluctant to get much involved with, preferring to focus my suggestions on generic problems of overall layout, arrangement, shapes, forms, structure, ext. Yet there are many here who do wish to make specific plant suggestions and, hopefully, they will chime in with their advice. Also, consider cross posting in whatever regional/state forum applies to your location, and to plant category forums (shrubs/trees/perennials, etc.)

Are you hoping to create an oasis or sanctuary screened from neighbors or an open “chat over fence” situation?

Agree, Little Bug! I have not had good luck with any plants from the big box stores! Like when I tried buying a tomato plant for $9.99 - got 2 small tomatoes from it! Boy, was that a pricey sandwich. :-) I've never been to Missouri but would love to some day - I hear it is very nice!

@kitasei: I'd say my objective is more of a oasis to look at from my deck - with hopefully plenty of butterflies and bees coming by to stock up on nectar. :-) I live on a corner lot so no neighbors to chat with on the one side and the other side is an empty lot since the house burnt down. I do not want any privacy, actually (except for the one bush to hide the one section of fence) because I would not want to cover the fence - primarily because I just painted it and it looks good :-) and also because the more tall plants that are along a fence line the dirtier the fence gets, especially if it is vine like and you have to tear it away every year. Definitely some 2'-3' perennials are fine along the 4' fence, though. Thank you!