Thanks Yardvaark. I completely agree that too many random shrubs/plants will look amateurish. That is exactly what I don't want. I like your idea of using groundcover to tie the areas together. That just might work. Could I use perennial geraniums for that purpose? I was considering Rozanne and Kashmir White... Maybe even removing the silver mound and planting Rozanne in front of the boxwood and roses? Here are a few more pics that may be helpful. Front. This shows the boxwood, double knockout roses, silver mound, and lavender near the steps. I really like the roses because they bloom all summer, so would like to leave those in place if possible. You can also see that I have daylilies planted in the mulched area within my sidewalk. I could probably divide and add a few more of those around the house if necessary. Although, the deer like to munch on them, so I hate to use to many on the side or it will be like a buffet... Here is a full side photo. Again, the top area currently has sedum, yellow coreopsis, and a couple of cone flowers I have two stands of Redhead fountain grass planted near the wall. Middle lower section, to the left near the wall, I have a peony plant. The shrub under the window is the Wine and Roses weigelia. The smaller shrub to the right is another WR weigelia. In the middle, to the right of the meter, is a stand of Morning Light maiden grass. I also have dwarf fountain grass planted at the ends of the walls, facing the camera. It may be worth noting that I do have perennial grass elsewhere on the property, so it somewhat ties in... Last but not least, a broader view looking down the side of our home, so you can see the perspective. Thanks so much!

Thanks, Andy! Yes, the photos were taken the day before they were posted, I believe. The Glads are just opening, and both of my Echinacea patches are in the first stages of blooming... they'll go on for quite some time! I'm a bit disappointed in the Glads, though... they're fading soon after opening. I was hoping they'd last longer. Perhaps they aren't liking the heat we're having... this is the first year I've grown them, so I'm not certain what to expect. I planted both whites and greens, and the whites are lasting longer, so far. Chicago is hot and beautiful in the summer, and cold and very windy in the winter! I love the Blues, and there are some wonderful blues clubs in Chicago and the surrounding area! It's been a long time since I went to a good blues club to hear a band play... eons ago, I would go to a little place called "The Blue Note" to see different bands... they got shut down due to the illegal trafficking of certain chemicals, I heard! Imagine that! There was also a place in southern Wisconsin called the "Silver Moon" that featured wonderful blues! I saw a band called The Kingsnakes there, and the sax player was out of this world! My favorite music is Classic Metal and Rock, but I still have the complete set of Robert Johnson recordings packed away somewhere! You know what they say... "the Blues had a baby and they called it Rock & Roll"!

We're getting a fine misty rain this morning. Supposed to be some severe thunderstorms tonight. We've had more rain already this year than we had in total in the past two years. It is a La Nina year for us, so that usually means more Pacific West rain coming in from Mexico and Gulf rains from Texas with cooler summer temps. I am so READY! Of course, that also means more bad storms. Can't win for losing, I swear. Looking out my window now, there are dozens of colorful birds at the feeder I hung in the weeping willow tree. I just took one of my sling plant hangers and set a large metal farm pan in it for the seeds. It is deep and has a good lip around the top, so accommodates a lot of birds at once. It works much better than those expensive but cheaply made plastic things you buy, and a heck of a lot sturdier. II also hung a Finch sock out there and it is covered with Golden Finches - their colors are changing from their winter drab to the vivid yellow. Each day they have more and more yellow feathers. Birds at the feeder or running up and down the tree are: Golden Finches, Purple(Scarlet) Finches, Flickers, Red-headed Woodpecker, Redwing Blackbirds, Cardinals, Eastern Blue Jays, Tufted Titmouse, Black-capped Chickadees, Snow Buntings, Black and White Warblers (Nuthatch), & Downy Woodpeckers. There is quite a lot of activity out there and fighting. I so enjoy watching the circus! Yesterday there were Robins darting about in the back garden, pulling up worms and paying no heed to me while I was watering. One Robin came right over to me to get a drink. She wasn't a bit afraid of me. I laid the hose down by the Wisteria tree and she hopped right over and took a good long drink. So cute! This morning, the Weeping Willow popped out with tiny green leaves. So pretty and welcome to see. I better go out and put out more seeds before the Chickadees tear up the Finch socks. Thank you all for the lovely comments. Nice to have all my hard work appreciated. Hope you have a good day. And thank you all for dropping by! Please drop by again. ~Annie

mmqchdygg if you want certain daylilies from Melanie email her to see if she still has them and can hold them for you, She often sells out of some cultivars early. I email her in very early in the year for the cultivars I want. I recently recieved my order from her as always very healthy fans. This is my second year buying from NCD and I will continue buying from her as she is in the same zone I know they will be hardy here. Shive I never have a problem with emails to NCD I would try again otherwise her phone number might be listed on the NCD website.