I am so sorry. I put the template plan in the OP and not the actual plan that I worked on! There are some plants that have question marks and I need help with those...picking plants that are appropriate to the site. For the focal point plant, I would like either a small tree / or really pretty shrub. I would call that area partial sun. I also need a pair of shrubs to go in the upper section of the plan. That mostly shady as our neighbors have planted tons of tall plants on the other side of the fence (and of course there are our two trees - the palm and the oak!)

Any comments on preference of sod vs. pea gravel would be appreciated. I realize I would probably have to resod once a year but it's such a small area that it won't be a big deal.

I live in zone 9B - Tampa.

lol! Here's the plan.

Which direction does your yard face? What is all the blank space outside the border of the pea gravel/sod area? Is the rest of it mulch?

This seems like the perfect post for Ricky, but I'll give you my (inexperienced) first thoughts:

I like the idea of the camellia as the focal point, otherwise it looks like you have nothing flowering in the yard. Lakeview Jasmine doesn't seem colorful enough. Schefflara seems like it will get too tall - too much shade on the porch.

I'm guessing sod will be cheaper than pea gravel, and less bending involved in trying to keep weeds out of it. Do you already have a mower/edger/trimmer? If you don't, then maybe pea gravel is the way to go.

Creeping jasmine is nice, but are you equipped to trim it back? You can't just run the mower over it (and end up with something that continually looks nice) like you can with sod.

I'm all for getting rid of extra sod, but it seems like you might benefit from having a couple patches of it.

Thanks, nativemel,

To answer your questions:

The top of the plan is south, the garage-patio side is west.

The blank area was going to be mulch and eventually filled in with smaller plants. I figured I would try to get the bigger anchor plants in first and take it from there.

We have all mowing and edging equipment because we have a grass around the rest of the house. Does the creeping jasmine gets trimmed with a weed whacker? If so, we have one.

In the focal point area we used to have a ficus which we planted as a small little thing and it got huge so we pulled it. It made a nice screen for the patio but it sent out roots that prevented anything from growing around it and I was afraid it was going to break up the concrete. I occasionally miss it! I really like crape myrtles but an evergreen might be better in that location since we use the patio year round.

Looks like it will be very green and lush. Did you want some color or want to keep it green, white and soothing?
Over by the patio, the Lakeview Jasmine with its lovely scent might be nice - though I have to say I'm having trouble keeping mine green (Help!).

lol, pineapplehouse, I just painted my house green and so I guess I should try to add a little color to the mix or the house might get lost in the tropical greenery!

I still say camellia over lakeview jasmine. It's plump shape and dark green leaves would be a good contrast to the lighter colored, stick straight bamboo.

Yes, the landscape pro's at my office building tidy up the creeping jasmine with weed whacker.

Crepe myrtle will not be enjoyable in the winter months when you are still enjoying the porch.

You've put a lot of thought into your plan. I agree, mulch the remainder heavily and fill in later on when you can.

I love doodling out plans like this! I snag my girls' markers to dot color in where it fits too, so I get an idea of what colors to work in where...

...May I take a minute to discourage creeping fig? My mother is having to rip it off her house, and everywhere it's clung on it rips of the paint too. It also grew up into her beautiful ligustrum tree and started to wreak havoc there. If you want something vining there, how about a native honeysuckle or [yet another thing that takes over but doesn't STRANGLE] carolina jessamine?

And as a focal point, those ligustrum trees do have a lovely silhouette. They are lower-growing and any that I see in the neighborhood just look graceful. They get nice white flower panicles once a year too-- not as many as a crape myrtle, but similar shape. And they are evergreen.

Enjoy playing with it! I wish I were able to stick to my plans...I get all magpie-like at the garden center when I see something new, and I don't always think of where it should go before I dart to the register with it!
Shelbey

Shelbey, Unfortunately, the creeping fig is there already. My Dh loves it and wanted it crawling on the fence. It shouldn't get into too much trouble since it's not near the house. I am totally obsessed about not having any plants touching the house because of the bug factor!

I love ligustrum - I have one on the side of the house. That would be a good choice although I have never seen one in a store.

I am very partial to Japanese gardens. I don't plan to do a classic Japanese garden, but I would like as many Japanese style garden plants that I can fit in.

I know how you feel about being magpie like. I was at Target last Saturday and saw a gorgeous, healthy Virginia Creeper and just couldn't resist even though I have no place to put it! That's why I want to leave a lot of space - for those impossible to resist purchases.

Mel, there are so many different kinds of camellias - are there any specific ones you recommend?

For your focal point, how about a weeping bottle brush tree? I believe they are evergreen and their flowers a gorgeous!

Instead of planting grass between the concrete driving strips have you considered mini mondo grass? Once mondo grass gets established it is nearly indestructable. At least that's my experience with it. Plus you would never need to mow it!

Someone suggested mondo grass and I think I would love the look but I am not sure how it would feel to walk on.

The short mondow grass is actually pretty nice to walk on. It feels a lot like soft grass with thicker leaf blades then most regular lawn type grasses. Even the taller varieties are nice and all varieties will take a lot of abuse and still look good. A good way to see if you would like it is to go to a local garden center and just run your hand over some mondo grass.

karalynn: How close together would you plant them? Would you mulch between the plants?

Just got back from visiting a couple of garden centers. The question mark plants in the top part of the plan are going to be difficult to find because there aren't that many flowering trees that will grow in what I am now calling mostly shade. It gets a little bit of sun, but not enough to make a difference! Somebody pointed out that since I have two trees on either side of this section it might be better to put in shorter plants and maybe a bench. I thought that might be nice.

The good news is that I might be able to use a Dogwood as the focal point on the lower section of the plan if I can place it far enough away from the house and lanai.

I am getting cold feet about the bamboo. Since my yard is so small I am not sure that it's a good fit. But I do love bamboo!

Gotta rethink the plan now.