How to add some curb appeal to my lovely townhome?

We just moved into our first house five months ago. I have decorated the interior and also our private garden in the back is full of lively and beautiful autumn flowers. Anyhow, the back is adorable and so picturesque but the front of our townhouse looks like no one is home (aside from the daily newspaper a mini-rose pot by the door and a windchime).



There is a rock garden that is about 5 ft by 3 foot with nothing but rocks. We also have a private sidewalk to our door. In front of the rock garden in a small patch of grass. It is maintained by the property owners, not by us. But anyhow, I plan to put a glass top patio table with four chairs and umbrella on the grass area. But I need to know what to do with the rock garden? We are in a mountain climate so it snows and freezes a lot. I don't want to put out plants or flowers, but instead maybe some fountain/little pond or seating. My neighbor has all kinds of cool things in her area with lights and fenced borders etc, mine looks plain

How to add some curb appeal to my lovely townhome?
Since you are only renting - I wouldn't plant anything permanent. When I lived in my old townhouse, I used really cool flower pots to put plants in, and took them with me when I left. I also used plant stands to add hieght to certain ones and I got a few small concrete yard ornaments. I had a mushroom statue, and some toad abodes. Looked cool.
Reply:I would highly suggest doing a garage floor super fleck kit from your garage down to the edge of your property if it is paved. They are very fancy, and with Top Secret Coatings Super Fleck the solvents in this coatings actually become part of the concrete and side walk so it never chips, wears, or peels unlike most concrete paint. You could do a green base color with tan and black chips or a grey with black and tan chips. Either way it is a great way to spruce up your driveway and make it look better than home around you. Anyway, their are about 200 color combinations you may choose, and they look artistic and very beautiful. Good luck.
Reply:Try container gardening. You can then move the plants when weather starts threatening. Or you might want to try a wine bottle tree. It is colorful and artistic...a good web site to see what I am talking about can be found at bottletree.com.
Reply:I'm a big fan of garden art. I have fountains, statues and birdbaths all over my yard. You can find them and little downsized benches at the garden centers. I also have some large urns in which I plant seasonal flowers by the front door for a colorful welcome. I always have my front door decorated with a seasonal wreath or hanging of some sort. I also collect wrought iron and have window boxes under all of my windows planted with colorful blooming plants. You can find minature decorative wrought iron fencing to put around your little rock garden to define it. You can also find small scale gazing globes that are tasteful and elegant (mine is a little garden angel holding up the glass globe). I also have a wonderful black cement pillar with a copper sundial on the top as a centerpiece of my front rock garden. Any of these items will jazz up your rock garden...
Reply:You can add plants that indigenous to your climate or a small but very efficient waterfall would be pleasant. There is nothing more relaxing and inviting than the spirited sound of a waterfall.