I’m open to moving, pulling, changing.

Full sun. 7b...sorry!!!!

Is the last picture a shot looking toward the pond area? You have a great yard and lots of nice plantings. I want to see what that area with the little roof and wood trellis is. A picture from the side showing that area would help. The sun and metal trellis is distracting to me--too much stuff in one area. It looks like it would be a nice place for a bench and some minimal vines that don't grow too thickly with foliage on the wood trellis. With a humming bird feeder hanging from the wood trellis. I like to sit, rest and watch the little fellows after pulling a bunch of weeds.

You have a nice yard and a lovely home. I agree with the poster above in that I’m not a fan of doodads and would rather go exclusively with heavy plantings instead. The little roof and trellis aren’t working for me. Seems a little too contrived.

I really like the hydrangeas (snowballs?) in front of the screened in porch and would just continue with those.

Frankielynnsie, thank you! That little roof is my gas fireplace and vent. I will try to take another pic tomorrow. I was thinking I need to edit some of those items. I like your ideas! I love the hummingbirds too. We have very sweet and curious ones. I have a favorite that will just hover over me when I’m in the garden and will sit on the feeder when it’s in my hands to refill.

Little bug, thank you! I agree that an edit is in order with those items. I like the idea of extending the hydrangeas for height in the summer while not obstructing the view in other seasons. They seem to be really happy in that bed.

maybe consider a trellis across the width of the house vs trying to focus on the gas fireplace bump out.

LEWIS ST. Southampton Village New York · More Info

Exterior · More Info

I agree with others about removing the visual clutter. I don’t think the brown rustic trellis arbour works in that position. I'd remove it and also the two small metal arched trellises. The former is too rustic and the latter disproportionately small and flimsy-looking. I could live with the sun but I’d remove everything else including the string of lights. On the other hand I’d have denser planting in the bed with a greater range of height and no mulch showing.

What a gorgeous space you have! Although it won't be as noticeable when your trellis is covered with plants, I think I might paint the wood the same color as the house. If that little roof wasn't there, I think the wood color would look fine, but I think it just looks too ??? did someone say contrived? Same color as the house would blend it and let the plants shine. I like your sun, but would move it, maybe to the peak of the ?? is that a sun porch? I think a bench under the arbor is a great idea, too...one with a back would fill in the blank wall a bit and would look wonderful...a few pavers leading in to it from the lawn.

Maybe a couple of colorful hanging baskets from the top of the arbor?

It seems that the screened in porch has a lot of tall material separating it from the yard. Is it intended that the view to the yard, from inside the porch, be blocked/obscured?

Oooh! Yaardvark I love that and it hits all the boxes. The trunk won’t obscure the view and there is height! What variety of crepe Myrtle do you think? Thank you!!!

No, it’s a beginners folly. The butterfly bushes in the corner are Miss Molly...supposed to be “compact” but are larger than expected. Now I love them and what they bring to my garden & can’t live without them lol. Maybe I can cut them down harder next spring.

The hydrangeas were put in by my landscape guy in another spot but had only grown to about 3 ft for the last 3 yrs so I had convinced myself he bought “little limes”. I moved them this year and they are apparently not🤦‍♀️...just way happier in this space.

And to answer... not intended to be obscured. Beginner Folly

If you find a smaller variety of crape, that could work. (I have a 'Purple Magic' crape and it seems to be relatively slow growing and that in the end will make a tree the size shown.)

What first came to mind for me was mock orange. There could be any number of shrubs capable of becoming small trees where you live -- which I don't know where is.

Ok! I’ll check it out. I’m in Charlotte 7b/8