If you look at the photo taken from the street, you'll notice that the annuals don't make much of an impact. They're really too small to use in this kind of planting, IMO, and would be better planted in a large decorative pot and set off to one side of the path near the steps. One or maybe two colors would be better than multicolor.

Judging from the trees and impatiens already there, I'm going to guess part shade to shade? I'd put in a grouping of small evergreens, maybe Pieris (Andromeda) or Kalmia (Mountain Laurel), and repeat them with another grouping under the tree. Choose cultivars that stay fairly small so they don't outgrow the space. In front of those, maybe Deutzia gracilis 'Nikko', and off to one side, a clump of three to five Aconitum carmichaelii 'Arendsii' (Monkshood, caution, poisonous)and a small clump of hostas with variegated foliage. Repeat the same plants in small groupings under the tree, and maybe add small groupings of Fothergilla gardenii for fall color and spring flowers and Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydrangea) off to the left side under the tree for summer flowers and fall color.

Alternately, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, and a huge selection of perennials like ferns, Astilbe, Tiarella, Epimediums, Hostas, really too many to name, that do well in part shade are available to fill in if you want to garden. If you're not into gardening, stick with the shrubs and a small number of perennials.

Measure the space and make a scale drawing of the planting areas. Graph paper is good. Then, when you've see what's available at the local nursery, draw in circles to represent the mature size of the plant. If you take a picture of the area to the nursery with you and explain what you're trying to accomplish and how much space there is, the staff should be able to steer you toward plants that don't get too big.

Bring a notebook, and when you see a plant that interests you, copy everything from the tag into the notebook, then go home and research each plant. When you're sure it will grow in your conditions, you can start narrowing down the list by choosing some evergreens for winter interest, some with colorful fall foliage or twigs or berries for fall and winter, and some for spring and summer blooms. A few colorful perennials will add some splashes of color, though temporary because most perennials only bloom for a short time.

This is just one way to do it. Also you don't say if deer are a problem in your area, which is a whole other ballgame.

Your new walkway looks very nicely done. (Sorry I can't help with the plants!)

saypoint, thank you so much for your very informative response! I just was looking up all of your suggestions online so I can see what they look like and how big they get. I really like the nikko and the Fothergilla gardenii you suggested. The andromeda looks beautiful but maybe will get too tall. Unless there is a dwarf version of it. Also like the idea of the oakleaf hydrangea. Have never heard of these so thanks so much!

Just to give you a little more information. The house faces southeast so there is morning sun and afternoon shade mainly due to the trees shading the front of the house. we do have deer, I don't see them much but they are definitely around this area.

I agree with you about the annuals I planted. It is a disappointment that they are not making an impact from the street. I do enjoy them at least while in the yard or looking out the window. Here are a few more views of the yard so you can get a better idea of what is where. Underneath the tree is ground cover (lamium). THe dirt areas will be seeded for grass. I still need to remove a lot of the lamium. I transplanted some temporarily behind the impatiens and in the two small gardens to the right. I had a suggestion to plant the annuals around the edge of the lamium under the tree. Maybe they would be more visible then? I moved daelillies from under the tree to a few small garden areas near the driveway. I can move these next year if they seem out of place. We are getting a lamppost in the garden area in front of the walkway by the driveway.

I purchased 6 shrubs so far... Three azaleas ("tradition" in pink) mature height of 3-5 feet but they said it could be pruned to stay on the smaller side. Two mounded boxwoods. Right now the boxwoods are about a foot high. Also purchased one Aglo small leafed Rhodie. Also in pink, but I think a lighter pink than the azaleas. I was thinking of doing one azalea in the semi circle, boxwoods on either side of the steps, two azaleas and the rhodie to the left of the steps (behind the tree) with the rhodie near the corner of the house.

I'm not sure of the boxwoods next to the steps or whether I should do some sort of dwarf alberta spruce on either side for definition.

Thanks again for your help. I truly appreciate it.

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Thanks catkim! We are enjoying it very much. I can't wait until the yard looks nice too.

Annuals are not going to make much of an impression from a distance. I'd move them to containers on the patio or tuck them into a shady corner in the backyard, and reserve the front for shrubs and masses of perennials large enough to make a statement when they bloom.

I also have the 'Tradition' Azalea, a nice clear pink, just finishing up now in my garden. Skip the Dwarf Alberta Spruce. They're overused and not particularly attractive anyway. The Boxwoods are OK, and you can put those on each side of the steps, but I'd rather see the rest of the planting more informal. Your house front is asymmetrical, so you don't really want to do much "mirror-image" stuff.

Resist the urge to line up the shrubs in a row near the foundation. Kalmia latifolia 'Tinkerbelle' is one small cultivar of Mountain Laurel, there are others but I haven't researched them and don't know what's available near you.

I would skip planting anything against the house behind the tree and bring the plantings out in front of the tree in the area that is now exposed soil. Group the three azaleas together, in a slightly triangular pattern or staggered line, in front of the tree on the right end near the walk.

Bringing that planting out to the front not only showcases it instead of hiding it behind the tree, but it will be visible from the windows where you can enjoy the show from inside the house, and you'll be keeping them off your siding. Planting way too close to the house is one of the most common mistakes, and it's not good for the plants or the house, because air doesn't circulate as well. Think about having to paint or wash windows, too, you need to be able to get back there.

You can put the Rhodie in the round bed off to the right, maybe, and add some other small shrubs to the left of it, in whatever quantity is need to balance the size and visual weight of the Rhodie.

Lamps on posts are a traditional look, but the light from this kind of fixture tends to be a bare bulb right at eye level, where it blinds you instead of lighting the way. Unless you have your heart absolutely set on the post, I'd rather see you put your efforts into some nice low voltage downlights spaced irregularly and tucked into the planting beds, where they can throw a pool of light onto the walk for safety, and onto the plantings, to make them visible at night. Not too bright, just a nice mellow glow. There are some really nice looking fixtures available, check a good sized lighting store or the web.

There have been lots of discussions lately on this forum about front yard plantings, and they often cover material that would be useful to anyone who wants to learn, not just the specific person posting the question.

Thanks saypoint, I especially appreciate your advice about the spruces on either side of the door. I think you hit the nail on the head - the house is asymmetrical so to much formal symmetry might look off. That really helps clarify things for me and puts me in the right direction.

As for the lamp post, we picked it up today so I think it is a keeper. We haven't assembled or installed it yet though. It is about 7 feet high though so it might not be too much of a glare at eye level. I like the idea of downlights. they are so pretty and I will check some out - especially if we decide the lamp post isn't quite right.

I did follow the foundation planting post that has been around a little while. It was encouraging to read that traditional foundation plantings aren't always the way to go. I feel like I had the traditional plantings before(4' high bushes lining the house and the tree) and want to let the house be more of the focal point, with just a little punctuation with plantings. Your suggestions are great. I feel much more prepared for my next trip to the nursery ...and I will bring that pad of paper!

Gosh, what a beautiful white home. It is just screaming for a big blue hydrangea right in front of it to bring it out. A blue blumbega (sp?) would jump out at you as well, but I'm not sure if they grow in your zone. In front of that, some pastel , pink perennials would offset it all nicely. Possibly, even some pink shaded coleus would work in a shady spot with morning sun.

Any color would look great in front of your home. I would just not green it down too much.

Happy Gardening!
Lois

Thanks garden party, I love hydrangeas and was eyeing them up at the garden center the other day. I looked up the blue plumbago (yahoo figured out the correct spelling for me) and that looks pretty hardy and easy to care for.

i have had some landscapers over and one suggested little princess japanese spirea and rockspray cotoneaster in front of that. I think the spirea has pink flowers. Do you think that would work well with the hydrangea? I went to see the cotoneaster at the nursery but they said it likes more shade than sun and wouldn't do well in my spot. It looked nice though because it turnes rusty red in the fall.

I will remember your advice about too much green. It would be nice to have those pops of color. Thanks again!

Fothergilla is a plant with many good points, I'm quite happy with mine. I don't have a pieris but I've always admired it's elegance around formal structures. Just to throw out ideas, how about a series of urns on the inside of your circular walkway (maybe 5 ) planted with flowers, large enough to make more of a presence from the street view? Since the door to the right is obviously lower than the one to the left, I wonder if accentuating this height difference by varying the level of the urns might be interesting? A stepped effect.

You have a lot going for you already. The tree is great and I love the lamium (a big fan). The walkway also looks as if it was well-done.

I slightly disagree with saypoint about having something between the lamium and the foundation. From a distance, it's nice without, however up close you really do see the concrete and the lamium just sort of runs off into it. Very low bushes, massed, to provide a backdrop for the lamium, punctuated by something taller and rounded that is also on the other side. How about low bush, low bush, low bush, rhodie.

(Unfortunately, I can't think of any great low bushes right now since I had 13 year old boys here last night up to all hours, so I'm a little off my game) Of course, there is my new favorite, the juniper...but there are other choices.
I suppose the boxwoods could work for the "low bush" and they are away from the walking area so you won't be offended by their smell. (I personally cannot tolerate the smell, but I find most people don't even notice it.)

I agree that defining the the mass of lamium and putting the azaleas off center and near walkway would be a great look. When blooming with the rhodies that would be a huge mass of pink. (If you put the rhodie, as I suggested, to the leftof the door) Could be diserable, could be too much. Not sure. Too tired... must sleep...why am I at GardenWeb...the sound of the XBOX is keeping me awake...
Oh sorry, I'm back now.
The round bed can be very interesting. A problem though is to be sure there is SOME continuity with the other side. I am too sleep-deprived right now to think how to do that!

Also, please ditch the dwarf alberta spruces idea. I need to get a t-shirt made up that says "No More Lumpy, Dumpy Dwarf Alberta Spruces!"

I'm sure others will have other ideas. I have to prepare mass quantities of food for growing boys now.

Patty

Mostly suggestions on what not to do.

Ground level lighting fixtures are extremely rare around here because they don't tend to be at their best buried under snow. If this is a problem where you are, the lights have to be elevated some way, either on a post or on a building.

Since there isn't a state listed, we don't know how probable it is that there is acid soil there. Most of the plants suggested prefer/absolutely require it.

Having just killed an oakleaf hydrangea by having it in too much shade, I'm not really likely to consider this one a real shade plant. (north side of a two story house)

Thanks again for your suggestions, it has helped me tremendously. Today I purchased some Japanese little princess spirea and a hydrangea. Also purchased a little bit of the blue plumbago to put in front of the spirea.

I might get a japanese holly if I need another evergreen, or there was another holly with smaller leaves that I saw - not sure of the name.

Will keep you posted!

Scroll down to "pathway lighting" on the page linked below for downlights that are suitable for installing in borders alongside of walkways. They are not actually at ground level.

Since the OP stated that Azaleas and Rhododendrons were already purchased, I assumed that the site conditions were suitable. Certainly, if you don't know the pH of the soil in your area, you should have a test done. It's easy and inexpensive.

Also, the house faces southeast, which should be fine for Oakleaf Hydrangea. Mine are in a southeastern exposure and doing fine.

Here is a link that might be useful: lights

Saypoint, thanks for the link to the pathway lighting. we still haven't put together our lamp post but will consider other lighting as well. A friend suggested a light in the ground in front of the tree to light it up. I thought that was a pretty cool idea, but not sure how hard it would be to mow around.

Also wanted to let you know I picked up a dwarf oakleaf hydrangea. It is pretty cool looking, the branches curve and spread out. Not many leaves on it yet, but it looks nice even without them. I might put it in front of the azaleas behind the tree or in front of the lamp post.

Will post some pictures of my progress soon. Thanks!

For me none of the suggestions made so far make any sense--but only because with our alkaline soil I have never learned anything about the plants being discussed. For me the rounded bed behind the walkway screams for a Picea pungens globosa (because I love them so much) In time it would fill this area and still stay below the windows. Until that time you can plant around it knowing that time it will fill the area.

I wanted to post some pictures of my progress as I am so thankful that you all took the time to offer up your suggestions. I'm sure this is still FAR from a professional landscapers work, but it seems to be attracting praise from the neighbors...

Just to let you know what is there... in the semicircle there is a boxwood, tradition azalea, endless summer hydrangea, three little princess japanese spirea, and impatiens around the border.

On the other side of the walkway there is a boxwood two tradition azaleas, one white azalea (forget the name, but it doesnt get big) an oakleaf hydrangea (sikes.. dwawf) and an AGLO rhododendron. Also I planted four blue plumbago (the little plants in front) Will probably need more. Also want to get another urn for other side of stairs. I think behind the tree and in front of the plants I will put a series of stones as a little pathway. Maybe just stones I find in the garden like the one in the picture. Will have to dig a hole so it doesn't stick out so much. Also I planted some grass which should be growing in around the tree soon. Any advice/ feedback welcome. Thanks again!

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Oops forgot to mention there is another endless summer hydragea in white (blushing bride I think) to the left of the walkway...

I'm glad you put in the lamp post. I think it looks great.

I disagree with those who complain of glare.

A lamp post is meant to be seen from the street, not to light those standing right next to it. It gives a character that can't be achieved with ground lights (especially in older, historic areas, where ground lights seem almost "garish").

I enjoyed seeing your progress! Keep posting as things fill in. You have a sweet, welcoming property.

PS

I think the urn gets lost on the ground next to the front door. Try placing it on a small pedistal or box to the left of the door by the garage.

Nice job so far! I agree with spunky on the urn, though -- I didn't even see it until I re-read your text and went back to look for it. It'd be nice to see it placed on a small pedestal/column; it'd go well with the classic features of your house and would make the urn more of a feature from the street.

Thanks to you both.

Spunky, I love our new lamppost! Glad you like it. It gives that nice "Cape Cod" feel.

I do agree that the urn is lost. I might try to raise it on a pedestal, as well as get another one on a pedestal and put taller plantings in them so it will be more visible. Or I could forget the urns, but I like the idea of them on either side of the stairs. If it still looks funny, I will move them as Spunky suggested

Thanks!

Have you considered windowboxes? Your house looks fairly traditional and colorful annuals in a window box would stand out against the white of the house. The box could be white or painted to match your trim.

It's interesting to go through the entire thread and see that you did, in fact, take suggestions offered here. That's nice to see since I suppose many wonder if their advice if falling on deaf ears. I am so glad you dumped the idea of the dwarf alberta spruce. Good decision. Also, I see you nixed the landscaper's suggestion of the cotoneaster. While I am a big fan of cotoneaster in the right location, they would not have suited the front of your house. Another good decision.

I think the whole thing looks sweet, actually. I liked that you stayed low on the left side of the house and did some nice repetion of form and plantings. I would like to see a note of height on the right side, but you can maybe add that in next year somehow.

I also like the color palette...the soft pinks of the spirea, blues of the hydrangea (or pink depending on your soil) and the white azalea, along with the "traditional" (I assume you mean pink) azalea will work nicely I think. However, although right now the "hot" colors of your impatience are okay since the shrubs are small, next year you will want a softer, cooler palette of annual color.

Also, I totally concur with the windowbox idea. That would look very nice, in my opinion.

Patty

zone8 grandma - window boxes did cross my mind. My mother has them and they look wonderful. I wasn't sure about them on my house because of the asymmetry of the windows (double window on one side and two windows on the other.) Wasn't sure if it would be too much for me to maintain as well, being pretty new to gardening. I am open to the idea but not sure how to proceed with it. Would colorful annuals in the boxes compete with the other color on the ground and be too much color, or are you thinking maybe something more green?

Patty, I appreciate your post very much. Thanks for the positive comments and advice! I did gain lots of great info from the above postings and feel very fortunate that I have this forum to turn to. When I posted I had been outside digging for hours in the hot sun and second guessing my purchases and ideas. Thanks to everyone who helped me focus and gave me guidance!

If I had photoediting software handy, I'd be inclined to try the look of just two window boxes; one beneath the double windows and one that spans the two windows. I'm thinking that your two gables would reinforce a sense of symmetry even though the windows are asymmetrical.

As for flowers, I'd echo the colors you've chosen for the annuals in the bed -- but then, I think it's hard to have "too much" color!

Very pretty house and good job on the landscaping. Please check the eventual height of the plumbago. Here in central Florida in zone 9, the plumbago species that is used will grow to at least 3 foot high by 2 feet wide.

Lynne melb, I did check the blue plumbago today and found out that it actually isn't blue plumbago. I asked the nursury for BP put they gave me leadwort. It is a groundcover with blue flowers. I think I will transplant it somewhere else, if not this season, then next and do a different colorful perennial in front of the shrubs. thanks for asking, because I was under the assumption that I had blue plumbago! Anyone have experience with leadwort?

OK I am showing my newbie gardening skills. I just looked up leadwort and it says it is blue plumbago, however it only gets about 10" tall. So I'm not sure if there is a blue plumbago bush as well as groundcover. Will look into it.

Leadwort is also called hardy plumbago. The downside to it, is that it comes up very late in the spring. The upside is that the new foliage is an interesting reddish color, and the flowers are a quite amazing blue. The true plumbago species aren't hardy. Since I don't remember ever seeing them around Philadelphia, that probably means they are zone 8 plants.

I'd hold off on the window boxes. If you do decide you want them, I'd go for large ones, which will be very, very heavy. However, you can put a much greater variety in them, and they are easier to keep watered.

beenie,
This is fun - please keep us updated.
For the window boxes, I'd choose your favorite color among the annuals you have on the ground and mix them with a pretty green and/or white trailer. (Bacopa is one of my favorites - it comes in white and a light blue).
As far as size, I'd put one window box on each side - matching the size of the windows.
You could print out the picture and draw them in to get an idea of how they would look.
I (personally) LIKE asymetry.
BTW, which of the doors is your front door? Looking at the front, it's not really clear. I'd emphasize one door over the other - the one you want people to come to.

Beenie,

Yes, I see that there are many different species of plumbago. The one known as leadwort seems like it will work well for you. Good luck.

Lynne