vary the type of plants more easily not using a straight line approach. Also at the entry door area use smaller plants, a decrative item of some type (maybe a "Welcome" sign or flag). Use plants that work well for your area and that will not over grow the area. Maybe you could extend the walking area next to the driveway with steping stones or other media or add another planting area - depending on what you need. If you have a mail box on the street, you could also have colorful plants in that space as well.

branches that have fallen. I wanted to put in another bed or two this year and this will work great!

ground level, all I see is a super highway for the termites to get into your house.

in the air and everywhere else it seems.

husband would see this - oh, wait he'd start building them and not finish this project either!!! :D

that one hand in government does not know what the other hand does - or that it even has another hand. Anyway, looking into modifing the landscape is also worthwhile. By getting information from environmental, landscaping and back to the government, you may have what you need to get this dealt with properly so that the water does not pond up and can drain away.

Just wonderful.