I started to play with some ideas, but couldn't get far I can't figure something like this out unless I know where the bed is located. Is it part of your foundation? If so, 4 feet depth will present many limitations on what you could choose. Also without a context, I'm not sure about suggesting something like an interesting container, trellis or other structural form. I suppose a shrub or evergreen might be interesting, but the space constraints seem to limit the plant palette considerably. I thought of Sambucus racemosa 'Sutherland Golden' because itÂs a lovely contrast to your ninebark and, although a shrub, will grow back beautifully from a hard prune each year, keeping its size under control. But I'd be tempted to try something simple: 3 to 5 Actaea simplex 'Hillside Black Beauty'. These are slow to establish, but wonderful structural plants with blooms that have a heavenly fragrance in late summer / early fall. Buy the biggest ones you can get and water them daily the first season. Once established they do okay on their own. The basal foliage gets about 2 to 3 feet tall. It's described as coppery purple. The flower stalks go up to 6 feet on established plants. Blooms are white with sometimes a hint of pink. By the way, most nurseries still sell these as cimicifuga. Then, I'd throw in a grouping of New Guinea impatiens each spring, probably in tangerine. Now you know how a blind girl who hasn't seen for 20 years designs a color combination! Wellspring

Ficus elastica 'Tricolor' Here is a link that might be useful: Ficus elastica 'Tricolor'

Hey guys, just catching up with the thread. I have two ponds, both liner ponds. The first is a 2000 gallon river stone bottom, skimmer to biofalls. I am big into water clarity. I do suggest a pond cleaning every 2 years. Even if your PH and ammonia are good, you should check nitrates and nitrites. I drain the pond and then power wash it with a sump pump at the bottom. My fish I put in a temporary home of a 50 gallon Lowes hard shell pond. This is for those thinking of bottom drains. My second pond is 46,000 gallon, just recently installed, my dream pond. It has a 6000 gallon upper pond feeding into a 40,000 bottom pond. There are no gravel and bottom drains. My 3 bottom drains and skimmers go to a 4 foot vortex, then split to an Osaka 5 and 6 chamber filter. Honestly guys, taking care if my big pond is easier than taking care of my gravel pond. I love my gravel pond because it looks so natural. Cleaning is a chore, you can't get all the muck. If your looking into a bottom drain, look to run it to an outside filer. Osaka has some great smaller filters. The down side is they are a bit bulky, for instance, my 6 chamber filter is 13 feet long. But you don't need that. Craig

any spacing goes. don't should on yourself.