Another shade tree or a shrub line??

So let's hear everyone's opinion....we had to take down a Bradford pear and I am going back and forth with what I want to put in it's place.I was thinking either a red flowering dogwood or some type of maple or maybe even something totally different OR a flowering shrub row?
It's in our front yard close to the property line about 15' in front of some really tall pine trees. Not really near our house so we won't benefit from the shade. When you come down the road you can see our house now that the tree is down. The area gets morning sun and afternoon shade(for the most part)
Ideas??

Lots of possibilities. Have a photo? Are you interested in fall color, a specific color bloom, etc.? Will you see it from your house?

I'd say something low, so as to keep the house visible from the road. ☺

I finally got a digital camera!! Yeah!!! so I will be posting a pic as soon as I get the hang of it. We have a flowering cherry with pink blossoms to the left and back of where I want to plant so if it will be flowering I'd like a different color. You can only see the area from one window down in our family room. It's the north side of the house.

Recommending plants to others is fun! You can let your imagination run free and you don't have to do any of the work!

If you want late spring flowers on a small tree, you might try Styrax japonica. I have a "Pink Chimes", but many cultivars are white, which would show up well against your backdrop of pines, and the flowers are fragrant.

Crabapples may be too pedestrian but they come in many colors and sizes.

For summer color there's always the Golden Chain tree or Laburnums.

A former neighbor had a row of Rose-of-Sharon shrubs along the street in alternate colors which provided a pretty display in fall.

For more ideas, consult the Hillier Guide to Trees & Shrubs. It has many selection lists to help you choose for different blooming and growing characteristics.

Wow, I can't believe I didn't get more responses than this. Usually everyone has a opinion. Or is everyone just waiting for me to post some pics. I'll get around to it. I need to practice a little with the new camera.

Yes - waiting for pics.

Well I know once Victor sees a photo all kinds of things come to his mind! Very helpful!

Well, I will def get around to it.

Finally...a pic of where we took the tree down. Let me know if you want some different angles.
I welcome all suggestions.

I like everything...so, I'll start there...lol.

Highbush blueberry?

Elderberry?

Elderberry is poisonous I have 2 little ones so that's a no go. Now I'll have to think about the blueberry we used to have 3 at our old house, I do miss them, but not close enough to house to be convienent to pick. I'll have to post a pic on an angle, to show the distance to the house/door.

I had no idea that elderberry is poisonous! Thank you.

Spicebush, nannyberry, & Northern bayberry are all possible options for a fruiting-and-flowering shrub border.

Birds cleaned out my blueberries even though I threw netting over the bushes.

If you are thinking about shrubs rather than trees:
Almond bushes are beautiful in the spring, soso in other seasons.
Weigelas give consistent summer color and come in many hues.
Viburnum carlesii have a delightful scent and white flowers in spring
V. burkwoodi is also nice
Many medium sized Hydrangea, esp. oakleaf H.
Many spiraea, but I get a little tired of it
Lilac - perhaps in tree form?

ooo, I do love lilac, reminds me of grandma's house in Edmonton, Canada.
I also LOVE any nicely scented trees/shrubs.
You can all see my dilemma, do I want a solid line? which would be good since no one around here has a front yard fence. Do I just want to replace tree for tree? It looked good with a tree there. or do I want a more decorative eye pleasing something or other? What to do? What to do?

Jen - looking at this picture brings up a couple questions:

1. What is your absolute ht/width limits?
2. The photo shows a large area that is shaded - would you want to work with the entire area, or just a portion of it, near the existing stump?
3. Would a mixed shrub border work for you? In other words, shrubs/perennials/bulbs/grasses?
It's hard to get an idea of perspective not being there! But that is a great spot with loads of possibilities as others have pointed out.
Perhaps somethings that extend the season on either side of when the flowering plum/cherry is in bloom, but with graduated height...?
Kate

The tree that was there was at least 40' hubby doesn't want to go that tall maybe 25/30'. I can go real wide. I'll post another pic later to show another angle. We get morning sun. This is the northeast side of the house.
Basically my entire yard is a blank slate and I'm free to do whatever, so that's probably what is making it such a difficult decision.

Here's a different angle.

Something with a white flower which would show up against the dark tree behind it? I remember bridlewreat spirea from the childhood garden, but you may want something fall or late summer blooming since the tree to the left will be finished.

I think you have to decide what you're looking for, Jen. Flowers? In spring or later? I would not do a line of any one thing. If you want a hedge, mix it up with a few different shrubs and stagger them from front to back. Then if you lose one, it will not be ruined. Personally, I prefer shrubs and tress with multi-season interest.

Yep, I think I'm leaning toward a multi shrub line(staggered).

There are many choices for part sun. Many viburnums, hydrangeas, lilacs (as Don mentioned), crape myrtle, itea, clethra, amelanchier (june berry - taste like blueberry and it's native), spicebush - another native, fothergilla.

I wanted a spicebush to attract swallowtails!

LOL...I see all that grass, and I'm like, "It has got to go." I wouldn't even try to give in put into this...

Small to medium sized trees, some shrubs, and a horde of perennials. That's about where I would start though...lol.

I know it's a lot of grass....I figure if I ever have a landscape designer come out, they are going to be DROOLING. I pretty much do everything myself so I have to do a little at a time. Currently working on the shade garden on the south side of house.

Jen - thanks for the wide shot. It gives a better idea of what exists & scale.
I really like mixed shrub borders (have several) - so many choices & a wide variety of bloom times, lower maintenance & the dogs can't do too much damage.
Pale flowers, variegated or chartreuse foliage: all three would show up nicely against the evergreen background. Curve it out to achieve some depth, figure out what shrubs you like & are available. Plan on some perennials & grasses, if you like them. This will provide multi-season interest.

I have almost an acre of grass, but I don't water except in July/August: we get lots of rain here! I was going to take most of it out, but realized that it is valuable as a crop that I harvest for manufacturing compost.

Jen, at the beginning of this thread, you mentioned maybe a red flowering dogwood. I noticed you have a kwanza cherry. I have one too. When I first moved here, I didn't know I had a kwanza cherry and I planted a red flowering dogwood near it. Argh! I wish I had gotten a white one! The pink flowers and copper leaves of the cherry practically drown out the delicate dogwood flowers. Here's a pic from last year. You can see the dogwood in front on the left.

Guess that wasn't much help for you! It looks like you have a great spot there with so much potential. Have fun and good luck!

Harper

A line of flowering shrubs could be nice. How about a variety of viburnum that bloom in succession in the spring? Such as a snowball viburnum, and a double viburnum and maybe a leatherleaf? Deer hate 'em, and they often have great fall interest.

Yes, I would do a mix of multi-season interest, flowering shrubs of differing form, texture, bloom colors, bloom times, etc.

Yes, I'm def leaning toward a multi season flowering shrub line. Now to do all the research. Fun, fun, fun.

Coralbark maple?

Anyone have a mock orange?

We had one when we lived in CT over 30 yrs ago, lovely white flowers and delicious scent. I would think that a local nursery would have them.

I do, Jen. Just leafing out now.

And it usually flowers when?? Do you like it?

Mine is still small. Hasn't bloomed yet. Supposed to smell great. Forgot my variety, but I love the contorted shape and the green color of the wood glows throughout the off-season.

Nice small trees include dogwood - pagoda and Asian are nice and don't get diseased like the natives, JM's of course, fringe tree, sourwood and paperbark maple. Tons of shrubs to choose from. How many hours of sun?