Front Yard Garden

My garden is also in the "front yard", though it doesn't look as neat and formal as these - especially the LA one. The entire front would be garden if I could afford deer-proof fencing for my entire yard. Until then...

I heard the question - why not plant in the backyard? The answer: woods, slope and shade. Sure I could cut down all the trees, terrace the slope... But does that really make eco-sense?