Oh, I'm sorry that I missed these responses! I thought I indicated that I'd like a notification in my email when someone responded... perhaps I made a newbie mistake! Anyway, I'm glad I checked in and do appreciate all of the responses. Also, I've already been considering many of the suggestions you all have made - that makes me feel less inept! Yesterday I bought three dwarf soft touch Japanese holly to place below the windows on the left side of the house. I've also cleaned out all of the yucky and old pine straw. To the poster who asked about the shrubs on the right side of the house, by the dog, I have not yet ripped them out. I think we'll be doing that tonight though. I was considering keeping them (really, I felt like a plant murderer, haha!) but I honestly hate them and who plants azaleas crammed between a house and concrete walk way?! You can't see it, but there is one still left over.. To be honest, at the time of posting this initial thread I had somehow missed how low the windows were. This weekend this fact hit me, and I realized that many of the shrubs would have to be low and mounding. I was, however, considering putting a large burgundy shrub at the outer corners, and then perhaps the inner corners (the corner to the left of the door and the corner to the right of the enclosed garden space) putting some matching burgundy/reddish plants. I was hoping that they would 'pop' more being flanked by a lot of green. Then again, I also like the idea of including some chartreuse shrubs. Perhaps I could plop two larger shrubs that offer this color on the outer corners, and at their base create a grouping of lower mounding burgundy shrubs? If any of you like this idea, could you recommend a chartreuse colored shrub? I'm new to this, and can only think of a nandina variety.. but it turns red later in the year. Wodka, I really like the knockout rose suggestion. I'm actually hoping to include them somewhere. They do very well in this area. Dave11, I don't like those trees so close, either. The home is 15 years old, and I'm shocked that they weren't removed at some point. I actually had them looked at recently by a tree person. I was shocked when he said that he didn't see it as an emergency to remove them. The pine, I believe, is a long leaf. The other tree is an elm. They are 10' from the house. Since I limbed up the elm, they distract the eye much less. I'm not sure what we are going to do with them, but if we remove anything it will have to wait - the pine alone will be extremely expensive. I will try to get some extra photos later today and post them. Many thanks to everyone!!!

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.]

I like your selection of plants, but your drawing indicates that everything is going to be planted like a skirt around the house. I'm wondering if they are so packed in that some of the beauty of the plantings may be lost, and that you might not be able to even see the house. This format may be de rigeur for foundation plantings, but I am not a fan of them, and would like to elaborate on what Ken was saying. I manage property for a living, and over time, have removed many of the foundation plantings from the properties I manage. People plant shrubs and trees that are cute little things from the nursery with no regard to the fact that they can grow huge at mature size. Over the years they become difficult to maintain and the homeowner is enslaved in a battle of hedge clippers vs. foundation plantings. Inevitably, they have to be removed. Foundation plantings also encourage rodent and insect pests, harbor moisture against the house, encourage the growth of mildew, and rot out trim and siding. Houses need to breathe. The homeowner needs room around the house for misc. maintenance and a place to put the hose. When the house needs a new roof or paint job, workers need places set up their equipment, throw the shingles, and tromp around the house. General rules of thumb: no vegetation should be touching the house. No vines growing on house. 2 feet minimum between side of house and branches at mature size. 10 feet between roof and tree branches. Personally I don't care if you can see my foundation. There are a few standard shrubs around the house, but mostly I use dwarf shrubbery, perennials and bulbs. Have you considered easing up on some of the foundation plantings and creating an ornamental border for some of the plants? Perhaps planting the specimen trees in the yard instead?

Pippi - I think about removing that awning every day! I hate it! But it IS really nice when it's raining (which lately is all the time), so I never get around to it. Plus my hubby is a function over style kinda guy and he likes the rain protection, so only time will tell if I win that battle... :) And yes we have talked about putting shutters on the side, but it's just another thing we never get around to. Maybe this summer will be the moment we've been waiting for! I think you're right though, and it is a needed improvement. I bought almost all of the plants (except for a few gifts from my mother-in-law) and I'd say they are mostly from bluestone, with a smattering from home depot. Indeed, this yard has not been too kind to my wallet, but I figure I could probably have much more expensive hobbies! :)