How much sun does the area get? Sounds like it might be at least part sun. How 'bout pagoda dogwood, can be pruned into tree or shrub shape. Or viburnum or serviceberry...

It gets full sun in that area. :)

I had started to look at the pagoda dogwood. It is a beautiful tree. The other thing that I really like is Japanese Lilac, but I am afraid they are too big.

I don't know much about serviceberry, but will do some more investigating. Thanks!

Good sugestions. Other dependable bushes to consider would be many dogwood (cornus) varieties, Ninebark (Physocarpus), mockorange, viburnum. Personally I'd go with a mix of viburnum to get the berry production.

Seems like you want mutually exclusive things - shade vs privacy. I guess it depends on the layout of the houses/windows. Most privacy would require fairly thickly branched bushes. Most shade would require more height than 10 ft. You're not likely to get both. Anyway - the UM Plant database has some nice search features including desired size - take a look http://www.sustland.umn.edu/plant/plantdata.asp

Ornamental Crab Apples would work-'Tina' is supposed to be one of the smaller ones

Purple Ornamental plum trees are also quite manageable.

'Miss Kim' Lilac standards are very nice

Star Magnolias and grafted forsythia trees are great for very early spring flowers.

DMarie,

I would look seriously at the Pagoda Dogwood or Amur Maples.

Both are extremely hardy, can be grown thick and bushlike, or trimmed up at the base for a more tree-like look with bare trunks beneath and lots of foliage above. They have multi-season interest and nice form for neighborly politeness. Neither get terribly large, the dogwood a little smaller than the maple. I think both are attractice as a series of three planted in a group or row. To my taste, groupings accentuate their attractive form.

PeeGee hydrangea standards are grogeous, don't get too big. They don't smell... but your area might be too sunny for them. what about a star magnolia?

Please don't plant amur maple. If it's in your yard, I urge you to consider replacing it. The DNR considers amur maple to be an invasive: link to DNR's page about this alien invader

leaveswave, I am SO saddened to read about the amur maple. It is such a lovely tree, IMHO. I planted 2 three years ago and they are just settling in this year, stretching out and showing their best. So far I've not seen any seedlings, but I'll remove the trees if they do sprout any. There are times that being responsible is just plain not nice!

Any news on the Korean Maple?