What you are describing is really just the same as a mixed foundation planting. So look for those in your description. Usually a privacy fence is something that is evergreen to provide that privacy all the time. So I would do some type of evergreens along the fence then do the foundation plantings in front of that so you get all year privacy but the flowers you love for you to enjoy.As for what plants the best is to visit your local garden center to get the right plants for your area

Hydrangea! There are numerous types in shades of white, pink, and blue. Vanilla strawberry is my favorite pink.

They look pretty naked all winter that is why you want to mix them with the evergreen hedge IMO.

Yes, of course, Patricia. I had in mind random groupings of hydrangea inside the evergreen hedge.

Thank you @littlebug zone 5 Missouri and @Patricia Colwell Consulting! I'm a new homeowner and we DIY a lot so I hadn't heard the terminology "foundation planting" yet. I really appreciate that tip, it may explain why it's been so hard to nail down a plan.

Google "tapestry hedges". This situation is really nothing at all like foundation plantings but far more closely similar to a hedgerow or an assortment of mixed trees and shrubs, often native or wild species. Very common in the UK and in parts of Europe but much less so here in north America. Also referred to as a mixed shrub border.

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) Thank you! I wonder what it's less common in the states. Maybe that's why it's been hard to find inspiration, the perfectly trimmed and uniform hedges we see in our neighborhood are so not our style.

Did a lot of reading about tapestry hedges, a new term I haven't seen before, very interesting. We have a mixed "hedge?" of flowering trees--cherry, dogwood, Gem magnolia and a J Maple and bushes-burning bush, gardenia, hydrangeas, bottlebrush buckeye, Henry Sweetspire, azaleas, forsythia, evergreens, and roses between us and the neighbors. Something is always blooming or in fall color. There are enough evergreens that there is privacy during the winter. I do deadhead the hydrangeas about now and keep things trimmed within bounds as needed but not too much upkeep.

Here is a picture of a mixed shrub border in late March. I did not have chain link or neighbors to hide and think the spacing is actually too close for long term. The upper tier would have been better with the shrubs staggered in a deeper bed.

Plants include: holly, weeping cherry, viburnum, weigelia, buddleia - cut to the ground in this pic, dwarf spruce, chamaecyparis and arborvitae. Off to the right are hydrangea and blueberry. There are roses and a barberry. They suck.

If NHBabs is reading this I hope she’ll show pictures of her mixed borders. I think they’re just what you need. To me a tapestry hedge is a very different beast from a mixed shrub border. Although the former uses a mix of species it is usually formally clipped. It’s a solid wall of foliage rather than a loose arrangement.

My glacially slow internet connection. Tell me about it. Ugh. Hopefully Elon Musk will get his Starlink internet up and running soon.

NH Babs--which roses did you use? I enjoyed reading about your living privacy planting. In 5 years it had filled in so much and 5 yrs goes by so quickly.

Frankielynnsie, in this bed I have one of the Canadian Explorer roses, John Davis, which is a very hardy tall shrub or short climber with slightly fragrant somewhat double rich pink roses. It turned out to be a poor choice because its blooms unfortunately coincide with the worst of the Japanese beetles here. The other is a more recent addition, an Oh So Easy Paprika. It is short with small clusters of a gold-orange mix, and blooms before the beetles.

Elsewhere I have a few other roses:

Zepherine Drouhin climber which I love because it is strong scented, has survived -22 F with only some cane dieback, and blooms before and after the beetles with doubled rich pink flowers.

A double white Rosa rugosa with a strong scent, but looks lovely only in dry weather

An heirloom rose that was here at my 1850 farmhouse when we arrived. Its 3’ tall bushes sucker, and it has clusters of strongly wafting scented, pale pink, very full blooms that often are almost done before the beetles arrive. I have no idea what it is, but it is common around old farmhouses in this area.

@NHBabs z4b-5a NH this had been a tremendous help, thank you! I may be in touch :)!

Refresh my memory Babs - you don’t have deer pressure, correct?

I knew you’d be able to help, Babs. Thanks.

Kitasei, I do have some deer munching in winter as this photo from yesterday shows, though it only happens when other food is hard to come by. I could put up fishing line or fencing, but haven’t. It wasn’t an issue when my DH was down here all day 7 days a week, but now that he is no longer, my visits 3-4 days a week, even with the dog, seem to allow them to feel more comfortable visiting. The house isn’t within site of this area.

Even with the total neglect this bed has had for three seasons, it doesn’t look bad, and fulfills its requirement to block sight lines to a full solar array and a series of outbuildings and equipment.

Oh dear. Protect it before it’s too late!

Be careful about planting hydrangeas if you've experienced droughts in recent years. I'm either watering excessively (yes, they are well mulched)in recent summers or fighting off deer browsing on them. Roses, red twig dogwood and certain viburnams can attract deer and roses can be plagued with Japanese beetles. You may want to consult with a local Master Gardener in your area for best advice. Take photos of your property, including slope/water/animal issues, electric line heights, etc.