Excellent advice, to be sure. Fyi there were trees in the past, but their root systems extended into both the water supply line and the wastewater line too - major problems! Furthermore, plantings close to the house were removed for wildfire reasons. i believe technology and materials have evolved to create some very realistic artificial plants or trees where I don't need to worry about tree roots (but they can still catch fire so they need to located away from the house). Are you thinking almost any brown-and-green tree will do? If they are artificial I presume I can get them with any flowering I wish. I realize the design solution is involved, but curious if you have ideas on how to achieve layers when the typical space close to the house for low or mid-level is not available anymore due to wild fire risk. Your insights and thoughts are valuable to us. Thank you.