Crittergarden, (btw what name do you want to go by? Since typing crittergarden is long and well tedious! I'm greg!) I think doing the troughs could be very cool especially if you did low (under 2 feet) plants in them! Hebe's (if they grow there) or something like that!! or wild flowers, could be very interesting!
You're giving me an idea for my front yard!! I have all these bushes and trees, and there is one that could be trimmed up and a trough placed there - full sun! a strip of daylillies or rudbekia or something!