Blank slate (well, after the crud is cleaned out) [LONG]

We bought this house just under 18 months ago. The yard is just under an acre, quite neglected and overgrown. We have woods on two sides of the property. I would like to keep the yard as "natural" and woodsy as possible in the back ( my husband's concession to me) but the front and front side would be more groomed (golf course/subdivision like...my concession to my husband, lol).

I'm kind of at a loss. I've been gardening and growing things for years, albeit not "intensely". I'm not sure what to plant!

This is my first problem area:
http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.katt/ProblemAreas/photo#5024811012501216530
This particular spot is very shady. I would say 90% due to a large maple that grows very close. Apparently this used to have tree growing in it, but it died. I am thinking of putting a very small pond(this is approx 6 ft across, 3ft tall). It's completely surrounded by concrete.
Another view:
http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.katt/ProblemAreas/photo#5024811119875398946
Thoughts? Our uber-cool 1980s yellow & brown paint job is going to be updated to either a forest green with offwhite trim or dark slate blue with offwhite trim. *Eventually* we would like to remove the expanse of ugly concrete that the previous owners were enamoured with.


My second problem area:
http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.katt/ProblemAreas/photo#5024811205774744882
I have since removed the cedar tree (it was a hazard) and cleaned out the weeds. We will be replacing the wooden retaining wall. I would like to plant herbs and flowers in this bed. It's quite sunny (more than 50% of daylight hours). I am thinking of putting a trellis on the north end (left side of pic) and planting either a climbing rose or clematis or both. I would love a white rose with nice clematis. I have a few perennials in there now, irises and another flower that for the life of me I can't remember the name. Nothing that couldn't be moved. Since this is what people see when they walk up the drive to the front porch, I would like it to be eyecatching. The dimensions of the bed: the north side of the triangle is about 8 ft long, the east side is 12 feet long. I am open to any and all suggestions. My design capabilities aren't too hot.

Problem area number 3:
http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.katt/ProblemAreas/photo#5024811785595329890
Hubby's workshop. Blech. Yucko. Ugly. Since this pic was taken, we painted the eyesore a natural, stone (tan) color. We can't make it pretty, but we can try to make it blend in!! I would like to plant something that may climb up the building, but not be invasive (we are already dealing with Virginia Creeper). It is partly shady, with the west side (right side of pic) being completely shaded by the large Box Elder tree (no, I won't cut it down).

This is another view of the east side (also quite shady) of the eyesore:
http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.katt/ProblemAreas/photo#5024812026113498482
This area is about the only spot that I kind of know what I want to do. This area carries ALOT of foot traffic. At any given time there are 3 or 4 boys chasing 3 or 4 girls and/or dogs and vicey-versey. I would like to put down a wide flagstone path with some ground cover that can take a misstep or two.

Problem area #4 (If you've read this far, BLESS YOU!)
http://picasaweb.google.com/michelle.katt/ProblemAreas/photo#5024812477085064626

This area sit slightly behind the eyesore workshop and on the west side of the property. That spot of sun is about all it gets...and only for a only for about 2 hrs a day. It's hard to tell from this picture, but this weedy area has quite a deep depression, approximately 3feet deep in the middle. It is full of broken glass, pottery, screws, nails, you name it! We've been cleaning it out and everytime it rains, more junk pops up. I had wanted to put a pond there (seemed like a natural area for it) but short of lining the area with old rugs/carpet I'm not sure.


Anyway, that's my yard. Well, most of it anyway. I do have a flowerbed on the west side of my house that is sunny all day and dry, but that 's the only place I know what to plant!! Ah...I almost forgot. I have two HUGE pine trees in my front yard. There is no grass underneath..it looks unkempt. I would love to plant astilble, ferns, hostas..something underneath, but I don't know if anything will grow. Any suggestions?

I'm sorry this was so longwinded, but I'm out of ideas and am really relying on suggestions from those more enlightened!

Thanks so much!
Michelle