I have 2 of those maple trees in my yard and they do get pretty big(about 10 feet or so). Maybe something like an azalea bush or holly might work? I have a holly bush next to my lightpost and as long as my husband keeps it trimmed, it doesn't grow above the lightpost, :)

Thanks, your suggestions are good seeing as our builder already put 2 hollys and about 1/2 dozen azaleas in. If it wasn't for that, a holly would be going in :) Thanks!

Japanese maples are slow-growers, and if you get one of the mounding types they'll grow wide, but not tall. At my last home, I had a mounding laceleaf maple that was 25-30 years old, only 5 ft tall but at least 5 feet wide. Deep red leaves that turned scarlet in the fall.

Some 'patio trees' to consider: redbud, carolina silverbell, fringe tree, serviceberry. These may all be too big for your space, so check on their mature sizes first. A neighbor down the street from me has 2 weeping cherries on each side of their driveway, and they appear to be only about 8-10 ft tall. If you really want small and narrow, why not a tall perennial, ornamental grass, or maybe something like Clematis or another vine that can go up the light pole?

Oramental grasses are great & can be used/combined in so many ways... I remember reading a recent recommendation of combining ornamental grasses with knockout roses. The grasses also provide off-season interest, some of them turning attractive, burnished shades. I also have a few mounding/spreading japanese maples, and they are indeed slow & beautiful. Dwarf weeping crepe myrtles are another thought for a Virginia garden.