ILFarmGrown

Here is what I would do... plant some tall evergreens like perhaps an upright holly or some grasses that will give vertical interest even in the winter in the back by the house. Like the post earlier, use retaining blocks on the sides. Also put in a very smaller plants that you will use again on the other side to tie everything together. Now create a bed on the otherside of the walk using some nice grasses and shrub roses, etc. If you are a DIYer and you can do the retaining blocks yourself, you'll probably only have to spend a thousand or so if you get your plants at sell-out time when they are 50% off and such. We've gotten great deals just by being patient and your garden can be about twice the size that it would have been. if you have the money, I'd consider getting rid of the straight sidewalk but you wouldn't have to. IF you are not too high on your foundation, you might even be able to raise the beds enough to just cover over your current concrete sidewalk.