What are the stepping stones for? Will the stairs be replaced as well?

You have lots of materials stocked up. But what is the big-picture plan for using these and other stuff that's what you have to ask yourself. Before that can be answered, you also need to examine what are your goals for this area?

From your desire to remove grass... is it low maintenace?
From the addition of hosta, plants that are more tolerant of the evolving site conditions (i.e dry slope and shade...).

From the tree circle with the annuals a desire for more color and variety?

Andy, I don't have any specific suggestions on placement of individual plants except for maybe using the blue creeper to make a border along the steps - that could look really nice when the plants are a bit larger and mounded, and blooming. Otherwise, my thoughts are all centered around how to use your various materials.

It looks like the space overall is really manageable in size. And I'm guessing you are just looking to create something attractive that doesn't need to be mowed, with plants that will do well in the present sun/water conditions. I like the idea of removing all the grass and making this a planted, low-maintenance bed.

Will the plowed snow make its way into your planted plot? If so, I would use the white dec. marble as a border along the street to create a sort of "barrier" to protect your plants. You don't have to make it a straight edge, do a nice curve or sweeping shape if you like. Use a bit of the underliner material under that border, but don't use that stuff under your actual plants as it will prevent natural improvement of the soil around your plants. You might want to run a length of plastic border edging along the upper edge of that border. If you do decide to put in a rr tie border along the sidewalk, skip this step altogether and don't use the white rock at all.

The area doesn't look big enough to do an actual path, so use the 15" stepping stones to create spots within the plot where you can literally step in and stand to do chores like dead-heading plants or bending down to pluck weeds.

I think you would get a nice, more natural look if you removed the little edged circle and then thought about how to group these plants with your annuals in a more natural, spread-out way. To me, the slope of this plot suggests that you could create some very pretty "drifts" by grouping your plants by color. So for example, pick out all your plants that are yellow, white, and yellow-and-white and find a way to create a "drift" of yellow and white, starting at the top of the plot by the hostas and working your way toward the sidewalk. Then consider your blues, pinks and purples and make another drift using those colors. Try not to end up with an obvious "dividing line" between the colors (i.e., "here's the yellow half of the plot and here's the purple half") - a little overlap will look more natural.

That's a sort of "natural hillside" way of looking at the space. You could also approach this another way by choosing a dramatic larger plant such as a large variegated hosta as a focal point (or grouping of like-plants) and then using everything else as filler around it.

Whatever you do, fill in the remaining gaps with your ground covers and/or cover remaining bare areas with mulch til your plants fill in naturally. This'll help keep the weeds down.

Good luck - can't wait to see the finished photos!

Here's a rough sketch that shows my thoughts above... might make it easier to visualise.

{{gwi:38045}}

Thanks Rhodium and janetgia!

My idea of taking away the grass and using ground cover and perennials is strictly for the low maintenance. That area is a real pain to cut and I've been thinking about a garden there for some time.

To be honest, my wife and I didn't have a plan going into this. She picked out some perennials that she liked and we chose what we thought was nice ground cover. Perhaps not enough for the area? Will those different ground covers spread?

I have done a bit of work today, removing the grass and whatnot. The circle is still in place, but only temporarily. We will be disassembling it.
{{gwi:38046}}
{{gwi:38047}}

I have bought 3 more stepping stones and returned the old ones. I like this style better. And yes, the idea was for stepping onto the stone to get to areas within the garden to pull weeds.
{{gwi:38048}}

I bought some of that hard plastic divider that comes in a roll. I did a pretty crappy job of unrolling it and it's a little bent out of shape.
{{gwi:38049}}

I laid down the landscape fabric, just at the bottom by the sidewalk, and I put the white rocks on top of it. I ran out of those rocks and had to buy another 4 bags. The finished look isn't that great and I'm not sure if I should just accept it for what it is, an amateur job. Perhaps I should make modifications to it to try to improve the look. I don't know....I'm kind of afraid I'll make it look worse. Suggestions?
{{gwi:38050}}
{{gwi:38051}}

As I mentioned, the circle will be going. The suggestion of having the blue creeper on both sides by the steps is a good one and we'll be going with that. The rest of it, I'm not sure. I did enjoy your drawing, janetgia, it was extremely helpful. Although I didn't see where you would lay the stepping stones in there. My wife still has an idea of a circle or an oval in this empty space, but we're still planning. Your suggestion would still be to keep similar colours together, right? Or colours that complement each other?

By the hostas, would you recommend me to put some more of that black plastic divider in the ground to keep that area separate from the rest of the garden? We will most likely drop that black mulch in that area.

Thanks ever so much for all of your help, comments, and suggestions so far.

I will continue to post about the progress.

Thanks again!

Andy

Andy, glad my thoughts were helpful - I too would have an imperfect result with the edging and would just leave it as-is. With any luck you will have happy, healthy plants mounding over it soon anyway, disguising it - it's sole purpose is to provide a little buffer zone for the snow and such that might get tossed up from the sidewalk or street. You may ultimately decide you don't like it, or it doesn't work well, or whatever... I guess that's one of the things I like about projects this size - you can pretty easily do something different if the urge strikes.

Yes, my thought was to keep similar colors together, but that doesn't mean you have to do it that way. It was just one way of "sort of" organizing the plants you had picked out. You could also just set them around in their pots in various combinations and see what you like. In your little circle of perennials, for example, the plants at the 10, 9, and 7 o'clock positions (approx) really look nice together - interesting colors and textures there.

As for the stepping stones, I have them randomly throughout my beds so trying to "place" them in the drawing for you would be futile - LOL - it will really just depend on what plants end up where, and where you will need or have room for a place to step.
By the way, now that the whole area is clear of grass, maybe it would be nice not to create a separation between the hostas and the rest of the bed? They can become part of the "hillside," so to speak, and just blend in, anchoring things up there at the top. Also, again just because the grass is all gone, the circle in the middle doesn't look quite so random. Maybe you could do a small interesting shrub in there, or even a large variegated hosta, budget-permitting, as a "feature" plant.

When it comes to small spaces like this, I'm like you - I like to just go buy some plants that I like and figure out how to work them together. I had one similar bed a little smaller than this at our old place, and to be honest I never did get it exactly to my liking. But it was fun to do something different every year and see how it would turn out.

Andy, what is beyond the green hedge? Anything worth looking at? The hedge could be trimmmed or removed to aid in bringing together this front bed in-line with the rest of the landscape composition.

As it is now, the hedge should be trimmed away from the left sidewalk.

Andy I'm with the last post by Isabella. The space is small, the hedge is large - I'd remove it. It's also sloped, so perhaps you could stack the flat stone and make a low retaining wall. Since the marble chips are already down, they could be a base under the stack. You're right in thinking that front edge is not a really a good place to plant, but unless the hedge is removed, there's not much space.
Have fun out there,

While I agree the hedge is taking up valuable space, it's difficult to say whether it should be removed without knowing what's beyond it -- both horizontally and vertically. A porch where the hedge provides added privacy? Beautifully-patterned brickwork? Something else?

Anyway, consider how the yard will look in the fall once the annuals have succumbed to the frost and the perennials have died back. During winter, will there be anything in the garden except bare stems, mulch, stepping stones, and graying lumps of snow?

Is it desirable to have a major evergreen presence? If so, is that hedge the best possible example? Would you prefer something smaller? A different shape or color? Something flowering?

The link below shows a fanciful rehabilitation of a large, overgrown yew. I think you can just cut them shorter too -- but don't trust me, please get the advice of someone who knows for certain!

Here is a link that might be useful: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/design/msg0520363524789.html?37

When I saw the pics I also had the idea to trim or even remove the large hedge. I love the groundcovers but maybe you would want all one kind?
I like things that look very natural. So I would remove the small ring garden. I'm not fond of artificially colored mulch or white stones. Sorry. I would actually try to paint those stones, stain them or some kind of acid wash???? I would want them to look more gray or brownish. I was noticing your zone and you might want some plants that go thru the fall and winter. Something with berries? Or attractive bark in winter? Or I was thinking one or more ornamental grasses? I have seen some wonderful examples of this type garden on shows like "Curb Appeal" where it is hard to mow and upkeep the slope. They used clumps of flowering plants like blackeyed susan etc and grasses and then put stones for stepping and just larger rocks in there. Happy gardening! I bet it will look very nice when it's done and mulched. I like the website for the Renegade Gardener. He's up north like maybe Minnesota, and has good ideas about natural looking gardens. Check him out.
Laurie

It's been a while and I really appreciate everyone's responses and advice. Thank you.

After my last post, I trimmed the hedge. I would like to trim it more but I'm not a hedge expert and I imagine that trimming it too much can be detrimental to it's health. I also wouldn't really want to remove it as it does provide privacy for my porch just beyond it.

We removed the white circle and spread the flowers around the area. We also decided not to use the black mulch. We put some annuals along the two sides and the ground covers around the stepping stones. There is one ground cover along the white rocks with annuals placed between each one. These pictures were taken after we did the final planting and had just gotten back from a week's vacation. Some of the flowers look a little sad, but they've since improved. Overall, we're quite happy with the outcome. The grass is gone and we feel this new garden looks quite cute. Thanks again to all of you, once again! Andy

{{gwi:38052}}
{{gwi:38053}}
{{gwi:38054}}

So glad you are happy with the transformation. I'd like to see another photo when the plants are more mature.

Note: you really, really need to put down some mulch or compost. It will help your plants grow better, feed the soil, and help keep the weeds down. Even a one inch layer would really help and also improve the look of the garden. As long as you use a fine-textured mulch, the plants will spread over the mulch; it won't interfere with their growth at all.

About the hedge trimming -- the hedge should be slightly narrower toward the top to allow sunlight to reach the lower portions and keep it green from top to bottom. In your top photo, the "shoulders" of the hedge are mounding outward. Trim them off so that the nice shoulder curve is inside the footprint of the hedge, not overhanging the base.

Give us an updated photo later this summer.

I think it's nice when someone takes the plunge and "just does it". Many of us non pros have been plunging for as long as we've been gardening. It's a continuous learning experience and a good part of the joy.

Ultimately, you might want to rethink the strip of white stones - they'll get dingy, attract blowing leaves and litter; and keeping them off the sidewalk will be a constant battle.

lol

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, people, I really appreciate it. I know that this is all just a work in process and most likely never-ending. The white stones rolling onto the sidewalk makes me laugh, because I am already constantly kicking them back onto their pile. lol

I'll have to do something with the hedge, I appreciate the suggestion, but I'm still a little unsure of what you mean, catkim. If you read this, could I trouble you to explain one more time, please? Thanks in advance!

Also, the fine mulch is a good idea, I think. The mulch that I had and returned were actually pretty large chunks. I like the idea of dealing with less weeds, I just spent a bit of time digging a whole whack of them out of this little area.

Can I buy compost at a garden store? Should it be put down first, as a fertilizer, before any mulch is thrown down?

Another question about the hedge: If I have mulch down and then I start to trim my hedge, I can see this being a pretty big headache trying to pick up the trimmed pieces of hedge from amongst my mulch on the ground. Any suggestions here?

I'm sure I'll think of more questions, but I do thank you again everyone.

PS, looking at these last pictures I've posted, my garden looks absolutely sad. I'm sure many of you wouldn't dare post them if this were yours. It is looking better already though, I assure you.

Thanks!

Andy

Obviously, I'm not catkim, but I'll try to explain -- I thought the same thing when I saw your photo from last Tuesday.

Look first at the bottom of your hedge, where it first leafs out above ground. That's the "footprint" catkim means; how much space the bottom of the hedge takes up. As your eye travels up, you should see how the hedge begins to flare out, and near the top it's almost bumped out like a pair of shoulders.

You want your hedge to be widest at its base, or footprint, and a little narrower at the top. A slight tapering in as you go up will help sunlight to reach all of the plant, rather than having the base shaded by the top.

I nearly said "turn the shape upside down" but it wouldn't need to be as angled as you currently have it. Just watch the line, bottom to top, as you trim. It might be easier to work toward getting it straight up-and-down at first, to remove the bump-out. Then you can go back in later to taper in.

Hope this helps! Don't worry too much about doing the trimming. Yews are very forgiving.

This autumn/fall don't forget to add some bulbage; they will look really great on that slope.

Go with your plan for awhile and reflect on it... you will see what needs to be tweaked later. Immature plantings always look a little scrawney, and there is ofter planters remorse to consider/ignore.

I do notice that you seem to like a concentric composition theme... the rock circle in the original composition and the centrally located stepping stone triad now.