Need conifer recommendation

I am looking for a recommendation for a foundation/corner/specimen evergreen
conifer. I am in zone 6b Eastern Kentucky with well draining clay/loam soil
that is mildly acid- pH 6.8. The location faces east with no significant
obstructions, but as it is a corner it sees southern sun until well into the
afternoon.

I am on top of a hill, but believe that my prevailing winds are primarily
from the south to southwest. I do water weekly (more initially) and spend a
fair amount of time tending the garden so a bit of maintenance would not
scare me.

It is a small scale one story home and I would like the tree to not outgrow
its location, at least in my lifetime (I'm 54). Perhaps not to exceed 20
feet? I would prefer a good green- the siding is khaki colored so I do not
think anything in the yellow/gold or blue tones would really go. As far as
habit, I prefer loose and open but am open to anything. I do feel as if I
need some good architectural structure, however, as the front of the home is
currently very mundane and boring.

The location is the front left (facing the house) in the photo below.

Please understand that all of the huge trees in the front yard have been removed since the photo was taken. All.

More pictures can be seen at
http://www.cearbhaill.com/ky.htm
Other foundation plants installed since these photos are- to the left (facing the house) of the entry are Pieris japonica (pink), pink flowering Spirea, and to the right of the entry are evergreen azaleas (strong pink), Arborvitae 'Emerald green' on the right corner and three DeGroots Spire's by the chimney- in case it matters.

Thank you for any time spent helping me!

I feel not imaginative because I always seem to be saying Cryptomeria - Black Dragon - I love it. It is beautiful when adding growth. It is no trouble. It is slow growing so you would have to buy a size that is at least 1/2 or 3/4 what you intend to have. It has a beautiful form too.

That's a beautiful tree, and looks like what I had in mind- assuming I could locate one large enough.
Several references I found listed it as zones 5-9, while a couple listed it as being hardy only to zone 6. That makes me nervous. Are we sure it would be OK for the long term? I usually pad myself at least one zones worth :)

Consider Arizona Cypress.........a quick growing evergreen requiring NEGLECT...........LOL. Planted our's about 8-9 years ago as about 4' and it is now probably 20' and no doubt at it's maximum. The foliage is more gray. Here is a pic

You might check with local nursery/landscape about hardiness.

What I like the best about it is that the needles are dark dark dark green (no blue) and then the new growth is a hot bright green. Right now mine is about 5 feet tall and pretty skinny and it has layers ---so there is bark showing between each limb layer. --it is not dense yet. Don't know that it will get that way. It is several years planted here and not sure how many years all together to get to its height. It is facing south - but has some decent shading from other trees. It wasn't prohibitive in cost for its size. I think it was 65 dollars.

C-
Some great photos in DavesG plant files.
I looked up our resources - says to zone 5

Here is another one.......arborvitae, pretty slow growing but a very nice shape and low maintenance

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/463701/

Bug - I have two thuja's in pots -- about 4 feet high each of them
They get to be reallllly big. I cannot believe how they are tolerating the pot with little to no attention. I waited too long to plant and now it is too hot to dig and not a good time for the plants. I hope all goes well until the fall. I didn't think they were slow growing tho. I got them because I figured they'd go fast and give privacy from the neighbors. I think the thuja may be too tall for C's need.

Yep- 20 feet max.

Keep 'em comin'...

Rosie, we planted three in different locations, two are in pretty deep shade and doing fine. Third one is a real funny. We were expecting an appraiser out so, put one in it's pot next to the drive, just dug a hole for it. With all the acreage/things to do around here, we forgot about it for a few years. Guess what, the root had grown out of it's pot and grown HORIZONTALLY under the drive, pretty far too. Not a problem for us since our drive is gravel being in the country and all. Anyway, the arborvitae now is happy in it's "temporary" spot in full sun and, of course, the pot was cut away long ago. The tree grew straight and tall. What a happy ending.

I love the textured deep green foliage of hinoki cypress (chamaecyparis obtusa Nana gracilis).
Despite the 'nana' name, it can get 15 feet tall. It likes a little afternoon shade in southeast.
A mature specimen is truly beautiful.
I'll try to take a pix of some of mine this weekend, but I'm sure you can find nicer pix on plantfiles or online.

I have few other varieties of C.obtusa and I do love them. The issue IMO would be affording one that was large enough so as not to look silly.
I shall have to look around.

Cearbhaill:

I'll see the Cryptomeria japonica ('Yoshino' is a nice full one for KY), and raise you a Sciadopitys verticillata.

You may be the only garden in Russell to own one.

How about c nootka pendula or c deodora Shalimar?

"Sciadopitys verticillata"
That looks very interesting- think I could find one of sufficient size?

"c nootka pendula or c deodora Shalimar"
Those both look interesting, too, if we think they won't outgrow the space in the next 35 years. I don't want something that is going to eat my house.

"Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana gracilis'"
That is a contender, as it is likely to be easier to get hold of, I think. I am new here and haven't yet checked out how amenable the local nurseries are to special ordering, and I would want something of sufficient size.
I know I need to go visit them...

Clarification & spellcheck:
Cupressus nootkatensis 'Pendula' (syn. Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula')
Cedrus deodara 'Shalimar'

Resin

Ah, the ultimate dilemma. What is sufficient? Big enough? No parameters are fixed so far, other than limits defined by the scale a domicile and ultimately in a finite lifetime. Are we waxing philosophic enough yet?

There are still a lot of other things to be said and decided, but "how big can I buy the initial plant" ought to be near the end of the story, especially for someone who obviously is passionate about the subject.

All plants grow, and an individual acquired at the start of this thread would have already gained some size by the time the planning process culminates. If you like a species, get a good healthy one and grow it. If diminutiveness is objectionable, start it in an alternate location (like a big container, or in the backyard) and then move it into place when satisfactory. There is no law against using a placeholder.

In fact, all the species mentioned that are providing a tickle could be procured, and then allowed to compete for attention and favor. How would it feel to rule the court from on high? Who will entertain, reward, connive against others, throw themselves prostrate?

This is the stuff of Arthurian legend...I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Way to complicate things :)

I have a placeholder- some idgit put a saucer magnolia one foot from the corner of the house. It may be good for another year or so, but that's it.

Getting a few and growing them out is a good idea, though. I have sites for two others of similar size available.

VISA thanks you for your suggestion.
:)

I know you expected no less. Of course I get 2% of their cut...

By the way, that's a great company name:

Idgit Installations

"We do it wrong, so you don't have to!"