From empty shady yard to cozy urban garden oasis – layout and plant advice needed! 🌱

Hi everyone! 👋

We recently moved into a house with a small urban garden (about 40 m²), and we’d love to turn it into a cozy, productive, and sustainable space. Right now it’s mostly paved and quite shady (northwest-facing), with only a bit of sun in the back-right corner.

I’ve been thinking about a layout like this:

• Back left: a small garden shed, possibly with a green roof, and a small water feature/pond next to it
• Back right (sunniest spot): a small greenhouse against the wall
• In front of the greenhouse: a couple of raised beds for vegetables, with vertical elements for growing herbs
• In between: lots of flowering plants that attract bees and butterflies 🐝🦋
• Left side: shade-loving plants and a small tree for structure
• Front area: a small, colorful table with chairs (rather than a big lounge setup)
• And definitely some string lights for atmosphere ✨

My main questions:

1. What are the best vegetables and herbs for a mostly shady (NW-facing) garden?
2. Which flowering plants would you recommend that thrive in partial shade AND attract pollinators?
3. Any suggestions for a small tree that does well in shade but still adds character?
4. Tips for combining a productive veggie garden with a cozy, aesthetic design?
5. Anything I should consider before adding a small greenhouse in this type of space?

I’ve attached a “before” picture.

Would love to hear your ideas, plant suggestions, or even layout tips! 🙏