maybe this is where the term "potted" flowers came from?? ;) I'm dying to find out which of your plants like wine the best! speaking of these barrels (although slightly off-topic)... why do they always sell them for water features with a plastic liner?? I mean... they hold wine and whiskey and the wet soil we put in them... so??? just another one of my silly "how come" thoughts. :)

Japanese maples are beautiful, but drowns out against the red brick. I'll second that and suggest you have a look at shrubs rather than a tree for your corner if you want to preserve the view from the porch. Check out weigela--you may find one that grows to your height/width/color requirements. Another suggestion is American beauty bush--my neighbor has a mature plant that is bushy but not overly tall. I think landscaping and gardening is a progressive thing. Ditto that. It has taken me so many years to finally get the look that pleases my eye, I'm too embarrassed to tell you how many years that has been but won't hesitate to affirm I actually have reached that goal. When I view my garden now, either out the window or from the street, I smile, so for me that says mission accomplished. Will I continue to make adjustments? No question--it's a garden not a building. Some things may disappear for no known reason leaving a gap that needs filling. Good luck...and enjoy!

The Rozanne geraniums will look great spewing out of the fence - they are vigorous plants that bloom their heads off from June to frost for me. As far as the evergreen foundation shrub goes - I think keeping it was a good decision since it provides structure, an area for the eye to rest, winter interest, and is a nice counterbalance to the looseness of the perennials. If you want to change it up for fun, I suggest looking up cloud pruning for the shrub. I have an area with a Japanese maple just like yours underplanted with cloud pruned boxwood, and the green Hakone grass, and it looks so well designed that it's my favorite spot in the garden. You could try alternating the geranium in the front (give each plant 2-3 feet diameter space, they will definitely take it) with the Hakone grass for a contrast in texture. I have both the Aureola Hakone grass, and the regular green one. I prefer the regular one (which strangely is much harder to find) much more, it's a bit taller, and looks like a fountain bursting with lush bright green growth. I think Aureola is more garish and might clash a bit with the pink roses, but then again that's a matter of personal taste :)

Thanks for the pics Dax and Mark. How does 'Strict Weeping' fit into the small foot print group? I have a local nursery that has 'green arrow' and 'strict weeping'. I see there are several with what appears to have the same description; Green Arrow, Moonshot, Jubilee, Van den Akker, Stricta (Strict Weeping) to name a few that I have seen on the 'net. I saw on UBC Botanical Garden Forum from 2007 where you (Dax) said 'Van den Akker' was narrower than Green Arrow but didn't see 'Strict Weeping', 'Moon shot" nor 'Jubilee" were compared. To your knowledge Dax how does 'Strict Weeping compare to Green Arrow and Van Den Akker? I also read about pruning the 'Skirt' off for a smaller foot print....What exactly is the skirt on evergreens? That pic of Pendula Bruns certainly doesn't fit the foot print sizes I have been seeing on the 'net. Has it been pruned to keep it narrow? or am I reading misinformation on this tree? I'm trying to find the difference here: It seems to me the difference between Pinus 'Niagara Falls' and 'Angel Falls' is, even though both can be staked for upright growth, Angel tends to be naturally more mounding. Therefore I would think more responsive to upright training? If anyone knows, please clue me in. Dax, you thought Picea 'the blues' wouldn't work. If I understood what you wrote it was due to excessive(?) pruning. When I google it, not much comes up on it and I do like the color contrast it would make with JM 'Crimson Queen' and "Orangeola' Is there another reason you felt 'The Blues' wouldn't be right? thanks for your help kenny