Just a comment on the north facing situation. It's the back of my house that faces due north. I'm in zone 6, which for me means very hot summers and winters with bitter cold, and cycles of snow - ice - thaw that can be plant killers. Throw in prairie winds out of the west and it's no fun right now. But my absolute favorite planting bed is a 9' x 20' border snugged up against the back of the house beside my back patio. I understand what you mean about the intense light in summer, but there may be a trick to it that will help you decide about what you will plant. I've watched how the shade line moves back toward the house as we move from spring up to the summer solstice (about June 21). At that point the shade line is about as close as it will get to the house itself. For me, there's a 3 ft band that is always in the shade. I don't plant that close to the house, but I do plant near that 3 ft mark. Those plants have access to growing some of their roots toward the shade. Plus the plants nearest the house are shaded through the days of the spring when the tilt of the earth thingy is moving that shade line. Anything closer to the house also gets the reprieve from the sun soonest as the shade line moves back in the other direction further and further from the house. In other words around the spring equinox (about March 21) the house shades an area extending beyond the bed and the patio. At that point everything is in complete shade and the plants are coaxed up from the ground by the warming earth and gentle ambient light. Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths poke up a little later here because they are kept cooler in the shade. Right at the sweet spot (about 5 ft from the house in my situation) a gorgeously robust clematis is beginning to need a little more space. It usually blooms long and then blooms again in the fall. So far I mostly have shade plants in this entire bed in spite of the fact that I know the afternoon light is coming. Kept watered, and tended, and mulched, I have been amazed at how well these shade prefering plants do. But ... I think it helps that as the earth's tilt again shifts the light southward, the shade in this area slowly begins to give its reprieve to these plants. I once used this bed for vegies ... just to see how that would go ... and the things that really love light to do well and are harvested in Aug and later, didn't produce much once they were tucked under the growing edge of the shade. Your situation is different, so you'll have to watch the light. On a sunny day in January the north side of my house is gloomy and significantly colder. The south side is the brighter warmer side. Anyway, my point is that you can work with this exposure and expect good results. There are all kinds of ways to create shade protection. A stepping stone in just the right spot is incredibly effective for keeping the ground moist and cool near a plant. I sometimes use that technique in addition to plenty of mulch. I love my north side beds and was actually planning to add hydrangia to my little playground in back. Wellspring

While you're (probably) removing your current shrubs, consider painting the foundation white to match the siding. And with a deeper foundation bed, try to leave space between the foundation shrubs and the house. This will allow for maintenance to the shrubs, also maintenance to the house, window-washing, easier access to the water faucet and the window boxes, etc. Ideally there should be at least a foot between the shrubs (at their mature size) and the house. I inherited foundation shrubs from the Previous Owners which are a good distance from the foundation -- and others which are right up against it. It makes a real difference! I can't really suggest shrubs for you because I have very little experience with sunny areas in your zone. My best recommendation for sun would be one of the low pines or junipers which stay in the 2-4' height range. However, I have no idea how they do with the amount of snow you can have in New England. You might get some ideas from UConn's Plant Database, which allows you to specify conditions, type of plant, size, etc.: http://www.hort.uconn.edu/fmi/xsl/search.xsl or MOBot's Plantfinder: http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Search.asp [Sometimes when you select too many characteristics, you get very few results. So while you'd prefer something that requires little maintenance, you might need to de-select that or a few other fields.]

In order on your website: 1. not sure, need a closer picture 2. L. angustifolia, but only an expert herbalist could tell you which variety 3. Santolina 4. I think an abutilon 5. possibly an acorus 6. Solanum rantonnetii 7. There are two species of Moraea grown, one with yellow flowers, the other with lavender. 8. Geranium "biokovo" on the right. The one on the left looks like a common weed species of geranium, but I'd need to see the flower to be sure 9. A Pittosporum of some kind The flowers look like Ipheion, but the foliage looks more like some sort of irid. If the foliage smells like an onion, it's the Ipheion. Podocarpus you're right Euonymous japonicus "microphyllus" Sedges and grasses are very hard to identify. You might try posting a picture again when it blooms, that really helps Arum italicum pictum a jasmine of some sort could be some sort of camellia, but just guessing Hopefully, I didn't miss one and get the order mixed up! You owe me one, girl ;-).

Lilac I'd put about 3 feet from the house. I've got a couple closer, and they tap on the window a lot. (Maybe they want to come inside.) On the other hand, opening the window fills the house the lilac scent. Ours are old fashioned. They sucker. I don't care; They own the bed for the most part, and everyone else in there has to put up with the Lilacs. Some of the taller mugo pines would work close to the house. Mountain pine (mugo's big brother) 6-8 feet from the house could work. Both can be shaped with bonsai techniques, but using heavier wire. (Warning: Pinus mugo and uncinata both have extreme variability in growth. If you want a predictable tree, you must get a named cultivar. Me, I enjoy surprises.) Sherwood Botsford Sherwood's Forests Tree Farm "Trees for Rural Living" http://sherwoods-forests.com sfinfo@sherwoods-forests.com