Mid-Atlantic Gardening: My Intro, 0 by coleup

coleup wrote:
Getting the bones of a garden right takes a lot of due diligence pre trial and error and a lot of time travel imagining what 10, 20 and multiple decades will be like. On my paper route I could show you numerous examples of landscapes that got it right and those that missed (or really missed) the mark. What may be curb appeal today can be an overgrown, house swallowing mess in 5 - 10 years. And a word to the wise as you are 'looking': not every plant that looks good at point of sale has been well-grown. If you select a tree/shrub look at its root ball. too. Problems early on will not cure themselves! This multibillion dollar industry has lots of tricks and shortcuts.

While you are out and about local nurseries check out the Japanese Cedars. I could see a Crytomaria "Black Dragon' in the spot below your peak. SSG speaks Cryptomaria...there may be others that would work...ie, an evergreen might just be the 4th season maypole around which your other three seasons dance!

PS I'd get a Hex sign to ward off over encroachment by HOA!