[jwholden]

OK, we are planting something that will be next to a sidewalk and in front of the front door. We want something that won't poke the passerby in the eye and won't block the view to the front door. I don't have the exact dimensions but I'm thinking stay smaller than a dogwood type tree.

You could do a boxwood hedge along the SRW and plant some nice perennials on the inside of that hedge for a 'hidden garden'. If you want add some specimen evergreens for some winter interest.

If I was thinking flowering I'd be going with a medium sized flowering shrub, such as abeilia, fothergilla, hydrangea, RUBY SPICE CLETHRA, in the center with something evergreen on the sides, like a Blue Star Juniper, Ground Cover Juniper, or a personal favorite Siberian Carpet.

I keep seing this bed with some Ivory Halo Red twig Dogwod, variegated foliage in summer and red stems in winter, in the center with an evergreen groundcover type plant around it. I might work in one other flowering shrub or perennial to keep it intersting, but not too busy.

Keep the view to the door 'open' and don't make it feel like the tree next to the walk is going to clock you in the head when you walk by.