I'd probably plant things that looked well with red brick, that is pink and blue flowers, and silvery foliages. The weeping cherry will cascade to the ground, and should be located where this habit fits. Most here get lopped or sheared back and thereby spoiled, because the people owning them are bothered by the branches approaching the ground. Probably many of them were bought for the flowers rather than the growth habit, a non-weeping cherry having been the preferred choice. If you don't have a wall for a weeping tree to drape, a pond for it to form a backdrop to, or another situation where a drooping habit is advantageous it might be better to choose something else. Cherry trees are also prone to pests and diseases.

Nice house! I like both the porch and the overall proportions and design. I'm afraid I agree with the suggestions to remove the plants that are too big for where they are and shift the arbovitaes away from the foundation. I try to plant woody plants to accomodate their eventual size and then put in annuals, vines and perennials to fill the space while they grow. Consider foliage color and texture while you are thinking about your new plantings. An all green bed can be restful, but will be of more interest if the foliage texture is varied. Many of my spring blooming plants are situated so that their foliage size and texture contrasts with that of near-by plants: iris with Veronica 'Georgia Blue', Baptisia, and Hydrangea for instance. For foliage color, there are plants with cream or yellow variegated foliage such as some of the dogwood (Cornus) shrubs and small trees or wegeilas. Some wegeilas have dark red foliage as do some of the ninebarks. I also try to have at least something blooming most of the growing season. Two of my favorite summer blooming plants are the later blooming clematis and hydrangeas, either the H. paniculatas like 'Limelight' and 'PInky Winky' or H. arborescens like 'Annabelle' or the reblooming and hardier forms of H. macrophylla like 'Endless Summer', 'Penny Mac' or 'All Summer Beauty'. Both the hard prune (type 3 or type C) clematis that bloom in summer and the summer blooming hydrangeas bloom for at least several weeks for me. I grow some of my clematis on stuctures like obelisks, but others I grow through shrubs and small trees that have finished blooming earlier in the year such as Cornus alternifolia, and the clematis provides an apparent second bloom for these plants.

Webyoda, Try the "gardening in shade" forum. You'll find all kinds of ideas. I can think of lot's of shade loving plants but have no idea what kind of look you are going for. If you can post a picture of the area to be planted you will get lots of input . Kathy

I would just create a bed on the other side of the sidewalk as well, looks like there is plenty of space there! And if there is only a foot of space I'd still use it. I wouldn't let anyone tell you that you cant plant because there isnt a ton of space. You just have to reconsider WHAT you plant. I could think of plenty of annuals that wont grow that big and love hot and dry heat. As for perennials.... that narrows things down a bit. Just know that you're looking for plants that don't take up much room. While lots of people prefer bushes up next to the house that probably wont work here.