Beginner Gardening: landscaping for very small front yard, 0 by gbern

gbern wrote:
Hello,
We just bought a new house with small front yard along the drive way. Our neighbours planted cedars between our properties and there is municipal tree in very poor condition in front of it (I don't know which tree is that). I was going to plant some lilacs between the porch and the tree for nice flowers and some privacy (close the porch and may be even put the bench behind the shrubs). But I am not sure how to choose the location of this lilacs (perpendicular to line of cedars, at angle or some wavy shape) and also may be have some wild flower bed with big rock in front of lilacs. Do you have any suggestions? Also do you have any comments about lilacs, such as which type is better, are they invasive, etc.
The house is fronting north and we live in Ontario so it's pretty cold, I think it's zone 5a but I am new to gardening so can not be sure.
Thank you all,
Gail