Plant your hydrangeas on the east side of the house. The house will shade them from the evening sun. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until your crape myrtles and ROS grow tall enough to make shade.

Roses. You didn't mention Roses.

Crinums. You're in a good area for crinums. They tend to bloom right after a good tropical storm drops several inches of water on them.

Gingers. If you're too far south for Hostas, gingers work well.

Nell

I'm in a different zone, but up here I plant coneflowers in areas that are hot and dry. Also russian sage and shasta daisies. Any kind of fountain grass I would think would be good - I've seen Fiber Optic Grass. That's a really nice and unusual cottagey plant.

I'm working on foundation plants too and searching for ideas. I love viburnums and pieris, but I don't know enough about them yet to know if they would be good in your area. Dave's Garden (the website) - lists areas where viburnums have grown and zone 8 was indicated. Maybe you can ask your local garden center.

O.k. thanks guys I appreciate it and gonna look into it. Unfortunately, the front of the house faces due west and gives me no reprieve from the afternoon sun. Do have some climbing roses on trellises on side of the house, but they defintely do not tolerate the sun well at all. But i appreciate all of the ideas and any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated>>

Viburnum macrocephalum, commonly known in the south as 'snowball bush' is a popular choice.

Unless you planted roses not suited for southern gardens, they may just need more water. Remember the little rhyme, 'Roses love sunshine'? They love water, too, but well drained soil.

Nell

I'm having good luck with Esperanza, Plumbago and Knockout Roses. I first saw that combination being grown in the medians in Houston. You have to figure that anything that thrives despite being subjected to heat and exhaust fumes, (and with little maintenance) is a winner!

For blazing hot sun try Coneflower, Cosmos, Zinnias, and Lantana. A big plus with these flowers is that butterflies love them, too.

Hope this helps!
Marilyn

Do try Esperanza. Outside Texas, they seem to want to call it 'Tecoma Stans' at the nursery. My friend Ramona calls it Tecoma Gold Star. I took her one that I grew from seed and she acted as if I'd brought her gold.

My son's neighbor in Florida grows plumbago and roses, lots of roses, together.

Nell

Sorry I'm not in your zone but, I'm surprised you have problems with roses. What type do you have? You should check out the rose forum to find which types do great in your area. Look at the Chamblees rose nursery (located in Tx) and CountrySide Roses (located in MS) website to get ideas. Also if you have any botanical gardens near you you could pay a visit to get ideas.

I would also add Tithonia to the list. I've heard lots of southern gardeners say it works well for them. It also does the trick for us in California to seduce butterflies. I'm growing it for the first time and can't wait fot it to bloom (even though it's orange :-).

Welcome to the Cottage Garden Forum!

Steven

Some more ideas for cottage type flowers would be larkspur, love-in-a-mist, poppies, snapdragons, and bachelor buttons.

These can all be direct sown in the fall or if you like to have more control over their placement they do winter sow very well.

Don't forget hollyhocks, cleome, irises, sunflowers, and daisies. Oh I need to stop! The list for flowers can go on and on.

As for shrubs, how about blueberry bushes? Or spireas? Butterfly bushes are an idea but some will complain they are invasive. I've grown butterfly bushes for well over 12 years now and have yet to have one reseed on me and they sure don't put out runners in my experience.

I'm sure your local nurseries would be well stocked with evergreen shrubs that don't really offer much in the way of flowers but they would make great bones for year long interest. I think the shrubs of choice for my area are the various Japanese hollies (cheaper alternatives to the more expensivse boxwood). I'm not sure how well these would handle full sun but hopefully your local nursery people would know the answer if you were interested.

Good luck!

Michelle

How about a smokebush?

Honestly, this picture doesn't do it justice. I just saw them last night at Home Depot.

Here is a link that might be useful: smokebush info

O.k. guys thanks for all of the help. I now have got the "bones" in and gonna start on filler. Let me know if you have any ideas!!! Thanks!!!

Shellva, that was a good suggestion about blueberry bushes. I read somewhere that you could think of blueberries as 'azaleas for the sun' -- similar soil needs, with the bonus of berries.

Nell