I designed the bumped-out area on the left side of the driveway pad to allow for easy entry/exit from vehicles - driveways never seem to be wide enough. It created a nice stepped feature in the approach to the front door.

The neighbor's oak tree overhangs much of my front garden and shades the house in the summer. However, it makes for a challenging landscaping situtation -- shade combined with acidic soil. I'm going to try Vinca Minor this summer as a low-maintenance and permanent ground cover.