Question
We just bought a home near Fayetteville, N.C.  I am not sure what style garage/driveway we have, but the driveway curves in front of the house entrance into a side entry garage.  Therefore, we have a large concrete driveway right outside our front stoop.  We have two "dirt" areas on either side of the front door measuring about 10' x 3'.  Do you have any suggestions on how I might be able to landscape these areas that will really draw guests up to our front door?  I am open to anything!  I appreciate any help you can offer!

Answer
Curved?  For all those formal entertaining occasions when the limos are stacked up delivering party-guests?

Seriously, it sounds like a good place to do a "formal", clipped low hedge of boxwood or Tauton Yew (The tiny one - Taxus ?media 'Tauntonii' - *NOT* its big 15 foot+ cousins, the Japanese or English Yew)...or similar evergreen hedge.  See below for NC specific plant suggestions.

Place them on the edges of these 3x10 spaces, then plant the interior with just about anything colorful - traditionally, it has been bright annuals like snapdragons or marigolds, but just about anything that says "hi!" to your guests.

Even consider a sculptural japanese maple, *IF* it is not facing south (high heat exposure will kill these tender patio trees.  

For more design & plant ideas, check out your local NCSU extension for plants and design tips -

http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/programs/extension/publicat/wqwm/ag508_3/

~M