Sorry, I had a whole long post typed out this morning, went to submit it, and my computer froze...lost it all! Hope I can recreate most! I'd LOVE evergreens! Two I really like....the creeping wintergreen, but I hear it doesn't spread fast at all. But I LOVE the foliage, and the berries. LOVE IT! I also am in love with harbor belle nandina, but it's a zone 6 plant, and so I'm just suffering with zone envy there. I don't know if, since it's a protected area, it would still work.... the majority of our weather/wind comes from the west, and the door faces north, with the planting bed pictured facing east. If it was a perfect world, I'd have either one of those, a nice lush bed of it, planted there. Both evergreen. Linda, it is a pyramid arborvitae. Could you tell me what problem I will encounter? Just size? In which I could prune it... or will I be facing problems with the root system with the concrete? I actually have two, one on the other side of my garage door as well. I've never been told this before! The ground squirrels, I have them digging insanely within my foundation plantings....it's making me crazy! This morning there were two fronds laying on the ground from one of my japanese painted ferns. They are stirring up all of the mulch, they are living, I believe, under my concrete front porch. The bed pictured has since been cleaned out completely, but there is a rock in there, large and flat, for decoration. I moved that out of the way last evening to see a criss-cross of tunnels underneath. THIS. IS. WAR. As far as the downspout....when the sidewalk was put in, a PVC pipe was put in underneath it. But nothing on the other side. I suppose we could dig it up and put in some gravel for drainage? So it's unused now, but there if we DO do something...I just wasn't sure what to do, but the pipe under the sidewalk before it was poured seemed like a good idea to me at the time. So we did. I appreciate the opionions....and I do believe I will look into this pachysandra, I've not heard of it! I saw a dwarf dogwood groundcover in some catalog I liked...and seem to remember it might have been evergreen as well. But Linda, do fill me in more on your thoughts on my arborvitaes. I love them, love the looks...but I will be facing problems in teh future? Thanks!!

Okay, here are two off-the-wall suggestions, as I see you live in a warmer spot than I do. How about Rau Om (Limnophila aromatica), the taste is a little odd, but it's an interesting plant for moist places and will be a good cascading herb. Or samphire (Crithium maritimum...I think), I've heard it called 'sea fennel', grows best with some moisture but fairly sharp drainage (think rocky sea coast). I like it's taste and it's yummy as is or pickled. Of the two, I like samphire the best. I got some years ago from Richter's, but you may find them elsewhere or in trade. Have fun!

nosoccermom - I love the look that why I chose the two together. I knew I always wanted a backsplash like that. I want the backsplash to be the main attraction lol. And the photos above are similar to my cabinet style with similar colors. When I look on the cabinet brand website they have those same cabinets with similar backsplash. By saying "it dont bother me" just means it really doesnt cause I didnt even notice it until it was pointed out - I love the backsplash styles I chose and also love the cabinets. I guess I wont really see the big picture until everything is done. And when I look around at kitchens with raised panels most are traditional backsplashes and I really didnt want a traditional backsplash. I guess I will hold off ordering my backsplash and once my cabinets are installed I'll go from there (which I probably was going to do this anyway lol) - Thank you so much for your help. This post was edited by jennifer11203 on Wed, Jun 12, 13 at 15:59

You have some wonderful plants. Is it important to have the window free from being hidden by plant growth? Regarding what is currently planted: White butterfly bush -- do you know the genus? Buddleias grow to 12 ft. here in Sunset zone 16. They work as a short tree. Buddleja globosa -- grows to a 10 ft.by 10 ft. shrub. Roses, Siberian iris and marjoram -- sun. Of what is on hand I believe the digitalis, C. californica, Aquilegia and Ribes would be best in the dappled summer shade. They are upright growers so I would be on the lookout for a low-growing filler plant or use more marjoram along the perimeter (it looks very healthy). One thing I've noticed with natives is the smaller foliage can be monotonous. They need something large-leafed or very large rocks for contrast. IMO. Siberian iris may work if bloom is not of paramount importance. Check mature height and width on shrubs. Nothing but headaches down the road if they are too close to the foundation. Good luck.