Does anyone have advice on how to plan a back yard into a garden?

[LaydeeBug]

2. I am in the Old Line State of Maryland...

Huge 60 year old elm tree in the front yard...another "evergreen" kinda too close to the house.

In the back, shrubs have grown into trees and I only have them pruned from the roof because there is a family of blue jays, a family of cardinals, and a family of Orioles who have been nesting here for the last 15 years. I know this is going to sound tin foil hat crazy, but I *know* them. Besides one of the trees smells like HEAVEN each and every Spring. I suspect it to be Sweet Woodruff, but I am not positive. Aside from that, I would much rather look at the mulberries and birds than the rowhomes backing up to me house.

So before I remove those trees, I will need to plant those birds a different home. I will only consider moving or removing them AFTER I see that they've re-homed. Meantime, I've got lots of other things to worry about