Beginner Gardening: Backyard Design.... Help, 1 by MMMpumpkin

MMMpumpkin wrote:
Hello to all out there.
First let me say, this site is amazing! Now let me say, I'm new to all of this. I just purchased my first home in The Colony, TX (Zone 7b or 8a). My "little" back yard is in good condition but i/o replacing the existing fencing with a wooden one; I'm thinking about landscaping for privacy (keeping the metal fence intact) and asthetic beauty. I look out my kitchen window and see the alley behind the yard...but more importantly every single vehicle driving down the alley sees me! I have a large, older dog that does not dig but does use the yard. No little ones to worry about accomodating. The birdhouse in the middle of the yard is going too.
I just began my online search today to see what's out there. As I've never had anything larger than a balcony to think about...I'm a little overwhelmed with how to start going about this. Found this site, began reading a lot of posts... andI have already learned one thing. Going out tomorrow and buy $1000s worth of plants and just getting started probably will result in lost money. I tend to be a spontaneous person who acts first, regrets later. Reading some of the posts made me think better of it this go around.
I want something that will keep the privacy year round and full bloom during the respective months. I would like to have the privacy aspect before the end of the year (prior to our 1st freeze).
This picture is the only one I have right now of the backyard. I'll post others soon. Any suggestions would be very appreciated.
Thanks DG for this site and sponsoring this sort of forum. I can't tell you how much I already love it here!
Thanks again to all for your advise.
~~Monica~~