Shrubs Near Huge Pine?

[Kevin B]

There is a massive white pine on one side of the back yard, and it used to have enough long, low branches that the view towards it from the house and patio was fine. However, last winter a very heavy snow snapped the branches that were providing a sort of screen of the bare area under the drip line, so now the view is a mess.
That drip line extends about 15-18 feet from the trunk, and I'd rather not pull the bed out any further into the lawn, so whatever would go toward the back needs to get by on partial sun at best.
Deer are a huge problem, so options are further limited. On the left of the photo are some lilacs, a forsythia and a viburnum near the south part of the drip line (I was remiss this year and didn't clean up the bed, so the daisies that are usually in front didn't come up). Any suggestions for shrubs that I might get to grow tucked in a bit on the east side? Northern NJ/7a.

 

[Chuck]

Mountain Laurels are a good understory bush type plant. Does good in low light and deer won't eat them, at least in Texas they don't.

 

[Kevin B]

Mountain Laurels are a good understory bush type plant. Does good in low light and deer won't eat them, at least in Texas they don't.

Thanks. On your suggestion I read up on them and they sound ideal! I've had mixed results with skip laurels, deer wise, but have those where there is more sun. Good to know mountain laurel may do well in this spot, but this may be a job for pros - more than a couple of feet into the dripline and the roots of the pine are a real bear!