I like the suggestions everyone has made about including a vine or climber on the fence. 'New Dawn' or 'Cecile Brunner' are two of my favorite rose climbers which look great with the purple of lavender. If your soil does not have adequate drainage, lavender won't last one season. I would recommend adding turkey grit (small gravel pieces) to the layers of soil as you plant them, and then incircling each plant with turkey grit to absorb the sun's heat. I've tried to plant lavender several times, always with horrid results. This year I'm substituting lavender with Nepeta 'Kit Kat' which is a new cultivar that grows 18" in height. Perfect next to a brick pathway. Nepeta 'Walker's Low" and "Six Hill's Giant' are huge specimans, growing up to 3 feet in height. Though they don't have the lovely scent of lavender, in appearance they are not much different than most standard lavenders. On a completely different bend, there is also Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia or little spire). I have one bush of 'Little Spire' that never disappoints me. It flowers from late summer to fall. It doesn't like wet feet and is drought tolerant. Heather

By this time next year, your beds should be packed full if you add nothing else. I love variegated and unusual foliage in the shade because if you do it well, flowers are unnecessary although they are cool during their brief appearances. Varieg. Pulmonaria, Brunnera are favorites of mine, in addition to the great suggestions already. Some other hostas with bright yellowish leaves would also add interest. You might like some lady's mantle. The leaves each hold a drop of water after it rains. Myosotis (forget-me-nots) make little "glowing blue" flowers. I think you will be glad later if you remove most of the ostrich ferns, especially those near the front. Those get too tall to be in front of many of the other plants. And they spread and can crowd/shade other plants out, as you know from the "millions" already. I fear your shrubs are too close to that fence/guardrail. Not sure the expected mature size of that particular bush where you are. You need to know to find out how far away they need to be from the fence, but I'm sure it's farther than what they are. It looks like about 12 inches. And is that a water meter near the steps? Don't forget a meter-reading person needs to be able to check it however-often they do that. I think you're off to a great start! Might suggest making the whole thing deeper into the yard if that's an option for you & your lifestyle, and just moving your existing plants around a bit - shrubs away from the fence, don't waste plants too close to the shrubs since they will be UNDER the shrubs soon, taller plants closer to the fence, shorter ones closer to the front. When doing this, for example, I wouldn't consider the bloom height for placing hostas, just the foliage height. The blooms are only there temorarily. However, if two things are going to bloom at the same time, you don't want shorter flowers hidden by taller ones. Or you notice an area that's a BLOB of all the same boring medium green. This is the kind of detail that keeps folks tweaking and improving existing gardens every year. mandolls, love that bottom pic! Nice!

I'm sending cut and paste "links" with pix of the Place D'Armes hotel in NOLA. It is on St. Ann; about two blocks to Jackson Sq. and two block to Bourbon St. It has a beautiful courtyard. There are gingers, crape myrtles to provide shade around and inside the garden; ferns; oleanders; bird of paradise; bananas; a shallow, square pond with a spouting fountain; a round, two tiered fountain, large planters placed strategically around the courtyard which can be swapped out as the season changes. Oh, yeah, and lots of impatiens and vinca, especially white vinca to stand out in the shade. Also, you need a couple of little bistro tables tucked strategically in the courtyard. Search Google Images and search for: "Place d'Armes" courtyard Be sure to use the double quotes. That is so Boolean but it works well for searches. Cut and paste the following URL. http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottoman42/176881005/in/pool-65489562@N00 You must post some pix when finished. - Terry

The bench is too short for adults! I've been looking at actual (new) adjustable benches and stools just to get an idea of the range and few come high enough for me to get my elbows right. (I'm short but still! My kid is shorter.) A quick google gave me this dealer's ad on the same model (note the dealer saying it's child friendly. It isn't unless they stand! Also note the faded bench.): http://www.chicagopianos.com/120409update2/hardman-minipiano.html It's not a studio...might be a type of spinet. It's not at all normal. 38" tall, 18" deep (excluding the handles in the back that keep it off the wall a bit), 56" wide. The top of the keys are 34" from the floor. It looks like the one in the ad may be missing the casters. Might be something to look at next time I feel like flipping a piano over. Sure, it's a Minipiano, but it's still a piano!