Aggie, the journey can indeed be frustrating and paved with failures. but each failure is a learning experience. What people with experience can do is help you identify the lesson, and maybe also help you to differentiate the possible from the impossible, but don't let anyone rob you of the journey or of giving it a try. At the risk of repeating myself, you are asking a lot of yourself to get both your foundation planting and your flower gardening out of one spot. If colour and seasonal variation are really important things for you, I really would suggest you consider adding a bed somewhere to give yourself more opportunity in better growing conditions - and that is tough to do nicely if you don't make a new bed out of the same stone. But maybe you can do that. The other thing that is a bit uphill for you is that you can only get so much uniqueness when your plantings are in the same PLACE as everyone else's. I suspect in your old neighbourhood, there was variety in WHERE in the yard people put their plants, as well as variety in what plants they had. If I drive through the neighbourhood, everyone's plants are probably at the foundation, and if only the details vary, the overall impression is still very similar. So your bed at the foundation is working against your desire to do something original on two counts. But it can be done... if you haven't already asked in the conifers forum, ask there for some suggestions for specialty conifers that would do well in these conditions. You do need evergreen plants - the bones, so to speak - and they can be broadleaf or needled evergreens. If you want a lot of variety in your flowering plants, you might enjoy having repeats of some interesting evergreens... I keep thinking of Chamaecyparis 'Wissel's Saguaro' but that might just be because I like it a lot. No idea if it works in your conditions. Even boxwoods would look good as consistent, repeated forms to offset the variety. If, on the other hand, you want consistency in the flowers (all purple petunias or peach roses), then go for variety in the conifers. Who knows, you might develop a talent for topiary :-) Some of my favourite yards are amazing topiary confections. I don't have the patience or the discipline for it though. Then you can do amazing things with quite ordinary plants. Pruning makes all the difference between green blobs and interesting shapes. Broadleaf evergreens will also offer some options for you; try asking for advice at a couple of nurseries - not big box stores. I don't know if the Ilex family would work or not, but if so, Ilex 'Mariesii' is a lovely plant - varies in form, can have some fun with it. Whitecap is right that people like me from outside your area may not be much use for specific plant recommendations, but we can help with form, and process. I've linked below to a site that explains the principles of landscape design in a way that I like. It doesn't all translate to the design of a single bed, but you can maybe play with some of the ideas. Karin L Here is a link that might be useful: Principles of landscape design

Thanks for the compliments. I have a swing out by the pond where I usually sit and read. I had health problems last year so I just sat and watched the weeds grow. Just can't sit and read anymore. Seems like I glance up and see a rock that needs to be moved, a weed that needs to be pulled, etc...........You all know what I'm talking about. Jenny

Susie, this is everything I have done and am finishing up in May for the very tender stuff. More stuff has sprouted than what I have marked, just need to get back out there and go through it all. Perennials Agastache *Honeybee Blue #21 A *Honeybee White #21 B *Lavender Haze #22 A *Sunset Hyssop#6 S *Pink & Apricot-very fragrant #22 B *Lavender Hyssop (Anise Hyssop) #66 A Ageratuim, Hardy *Purple common #23 A *Hawaiian Blue #23 B Allium *Purple King #7 S Anemone, Japanese *Serenade #25 A *Elegans #25 B Balloon Flower *Fuji white, pink, Db blue. #26- SPROUTED *Sentimental Blue #27 A *Axminster Streaked #27 B *Hakone White Double #27 C Bee Balm *Dotted Mint #28 A- SPROUTED *Lemon #28 B- SPROUTED *Blue Stocking #29 A *Marshalls Delight #29 B Butterfly Bush *Attraction #33 A *Royal Red #33 B *White Profusion #34 A *Pink Delight #34 B *Empire Blue #35 A *Black Knight #35 B *Violet #36 A *Peach #36 B- SPROUTED Butterfly Flower *Carmine Rose #24 B- SPROUTED Carnation *Cascading Clove Drops #31 A- SPROUTED Centaurea *Chocolate #30 A- SPROUTED Chocolate Scented Daisy #30 B Clematis *Bells #1 S *Fairy Vases-Clematis Viorna #94 B Columbine *Winky Double Red&White #13 A *Winky Double Blue&White #13 B *Leprechaun Gold #14 A *Crimson Star #14 B *Black Current Ice #15 A *Barlow Bordeaux Wine #15 B *Yellow Queen #15 C *Chocolate Soldier #15 D *GrannyÂs Yellow Bonnet #16 A *Magpie #16 B *Tower Light Pink #16 C *Tower Light Blue #16 D *Green Apple #5 S Coneflower *White Swan #18 A *Ruby Red #18 B *Pallida #19 A *Black Sampson #19 B *Paradoxa #20 A *Starlight #20 B Coral bells *Melting Fire #9 S *Purple Petticoat #102 B- SPROUTED *Green Spice #102 C *Paris #102 D Coreopsis *Sunray #31 B *Goldmane ???# 31 A- give away ? *Sweet Dreams #102 A Dianthus/Sweet William *Sooty #10 S *Black Magic #39 A- SPROUTED *Tall Double mix #37- SPROUTED *Spotty, Siberian Blue, Cheddar Pink, King of Black, Sooty mix- #38- SPROUTED *Spooky #39 B- SPROUTED *Rainbow Loveliness #40 A- SPROUTED *Ruby Moon #40 B- SPROUTED *Velvet & Lace #41 A- SPROUTED Dicentra *Golden Tears #3 A *Fringe Leaf #3 B Delphinium *Pacific Giant hybrid mix int. blue, p. pinks, lav, white #11 *Pacific Giant Black Knight #12 A- give away ? *Blue Mirror #12 B- SPROUTED *Dwarf Catherine Series ÂWhite #8 A *Dwarf Catherine Series ÂLight Blue #8 B- SPROUTED *Dwarf Catherine Series ÂRose #9 A * Dwarf Catherine Series ÂMid Blue #9 B * Dwarf Catherine Series ÂLavender #10 A *Percival Maiden #10 B Flax *Blue #32 A Foxglove *Milk Chocolate #32 B Grass *Black Mondo #66 B JacobÂs Ladder *Pearl Blue #61 A *White #88 C Joe Pye Weed *Pink #61 B *Chocolate #95 B JupiterÂs Beard *Keys of Heaven #41 B LadyÂs Mantle *Thriller #66 C Lobelia *Carinalis #66 D Lupine *Russell Hybrids Mixed #7-SPROUTED *Tutti Fruitti #2 S- SPROUTED Mullien *Southern Charm #61 C Obedient Plant *Crown Rose #61 D Pasque Flower *Purple #57 A *Red #57 B *White #57 C Penstemon *Rocky Mountain #57 D *Palmer #70 A *Firecracker Red #70 B *Violet Dusk #70 C *Garden Bells #70 D *Chocolate Drops #75 A *Electric Blue #75 B *Red Rocks #75 C *White Plains #75 D PinCushion *Fire King #87 A *Jet Black #87 B *Sweet Mix pastels #87 C *House Hybrids #56 A- SPROUTED *Crème #56 B *Butterfly Blue #56 C *Pink Mist #56 D Poppy *Coral Reef #69 A- SPROUTED *Oriental Red #69 B Rose *Angel Wings #4 S *Henry Nevard #43 12/16- give away ? *Margaret Merril #42 A- give away ? *Sheer Bliss #42 B- give away ? Salvia *Scarlet Sage #88 D Sea Holly *Planum/Steel Blue #7 A- SPROUTED *Eryngium/Blue Star #7 B- SPROUTED Sedum *VooDoo #64 A *Frosty Morn #64 B *Vera Jameson #64 C *Dragons Blood #64 D Stokes Aster *Color Wheel #93 B Torch Lily *Tritoma Pftizers Hybrid #85 A Veronica *Sightseeing #85 C- SPROUTED Viola *Painted Black #72 D *Chantry land #76 A *Skippy XL #76 B *Frosted Chocolate Velour #76 C- SPROUTED *Angel Amber Kiss #76 D *Angel Tiger Eye #69 A *Sorbet Coconut Swirl #69 B *Arkwright Ruby #69 C *Freckles #69 D Upwright Autumn Gentian *Royal Blue #85 B Yarrow *Red Paprika #72 A *Apple Blossum #72 B *Cloth of Gold #72 C- SPROUTED Annuals, Bi-annuals Agrostemma *Purple Queen & Pink Contessa #24 A- SPROUTED Alyssum *Rosie OÂDay #68- SPROUTED *Gulf Winds #83- SPROUTED *Wonderland mix #53 Amaranthus *Love Lies Bleeding-D. Pink strain #81 A *Pygmy Torch #79 A Bachelor Button *Boy Midnight #80 A- SPROUTED *Tall mixed #80 C x2- SPROUTED *Polka Dot Dwarf mix #80 B- SPROUTED Bells of Ireland #81 B Black Eye SusanÂs *Tribola #77 A *Irish Eyes #77 B *Orange Chocolate #77 C *Cherry Brandy #81 C *Mexican Red hats #77 D *Cherry Brandy #81 C California Poppy *Thai Silk Rose Bush #79 B *Thai Silk Fire Bush #79 D *Jersey Cream #69 A- SPROUTED *Purple Glean #69 C *Apricot Flambeau #51 A *Ivory Castle #51 C Canterbury Bells/Bellflower *Saucer & Cup blue, violet, pink, white #8 S- SPROUTED *Clustered ÂMarine #27 D Castor Bean *Red #52 A x 2 Catchfly *Carmine Pink #81 D- SPROUTED Cardinal Climber #79 C Celosia *Scarlett #69 B Cerinthe *Kiwi Blue #59 C x 2 Cleome *Rose #51 B *Purple #51 D *Rocky Mountain Bee Plant #59 A- SPOUTED Cosmos *Bright Lights #103 A *Candy Stripes #106 A- give away ? *Picotee #106 C *Daydream #106 D- SPROUTED *Psyche White #106 B CupidÂs Dart Blue #69 D Dahlia *Decorative Giants mixed colors *Dwarf Redskin mixed colors Datura *Triple Yellow Queen #59 B Dianthus/Sweet William *Pinks/double Imperial mixed colors #52 B x 2- SPROUTED Forget Me Not *Mystery Rose #91 A *Firmament #91 B *Unknown #91 C- SPROUTED Four OÂclock *Mauve #91 D *BakerÂs Dozen Yellow #91 D Foxglove *Grecian #65 A *Giraffe #65 B *Sunset #65 C *Candy Mountain #65 D *Foxy #108 B *Excelsior Mix #108 A *Silver Fox #105 A *Strawberry Fox #105 B *Camelot Rose #95 A Hollyhock *Black Currant Whirl #86 A *Peaches & Dreams #86 B *Cameo #86 C *Crème De Chassis #86 D *Margaret #58 A *Midnight #58 B *Blushing Bride #58 C *Camois Rose #58 D Impatiens *Plum Jewelweed *Spotted Touch Me Not #54 A Jewels of Opar #54 B Lantana *Camara #54 C *Miss Huff #101 A *Mix? #54 D Larkspur *Frosted Skies #84 A- SPROUTED *Kingsize Scarlet #84 B- SPROUTED *Galilee Blue #84 C- SPROUTED *Dwarf Gentian Blue #84 D- SPROUTED *Imperial Alouette #73 A x2 *Earl Grey #73 B *Parisian Pink #73 C Malva *Bibor Felho #94 A- SPROUTED Marigold *Signet Starfire #55 A MeadowFoam Flower #55 B Millet *Purple Majesty #101 B Morning Glory *Grandpa Ott #10 S *Split Personality #11 S *Chocolate #12 S Nasturtium *Empress of India #101 D *Milkmaid #98 B *Black Velvet #98 D *Tangerine Dream #103 B Nicotiana *Only the Lonely #89 A *Perfume Deep Purple #89 B *Hot Chocolate #89 C *Fragrant Cloud #89 D *Marshmallow #82 A *Apple Green #82 B Nigella *Oxford blues #63 A- SPROUTED *Red Jewel #63 B Painted Tongue *Royale Chocolate #55 C Pansy *Satin Boudoir #62 A *Victorian Posy #62 B *Carmel Spice #62 C- SPROUTED *Bolero #62 D *Mulberry Shades #67 A Pentas *Ruby Red Petunia *Shock Wave Electric mix #55 D Phlox *Phlox of Sheep #82 C *Night Phlox-Midnight Candy #82 D Poppy *Black Peony #90 A- SPROUTED *Purple Jester #90 B- SPROUTED *Flemish Antique #78 A *English Elegance #78 B- SPROUTED *French Flounce #71 mixed- SPROUTED *Venus #71 mixed- SPROUTED *Angel Choir #67 C x2- SPROUTED *Giant Blue Himalayan #100 B- SPROUTED *SwanÂs Down #100 A- SPROUTED *Danish Flag #100 C- SPROUTED *Apple Green #100 D- SPROUTED Salvia *Coral Nymph #92 C *Snow Nymph #92 D *YvonneÂs #92 A *Lady in Red #92 B Snapdragon *Montego #67 B *Black prince #101 C *Night & Day #98 A Stock *Evening Scented Sunflower *Cinnamon Sun #107 A- SPROUTED *Taiyo #107 B- SPROUTED *Earth Walker #107 C *Italian White #99 A *Autumn Beauty #99 C x2 *Aztec Gold #107 D *Lemon Queen #99 B Terrific TrailerÂs *Hanging Basket Trailing packet Tithonia *Aztec Sun *Torch *Goldfinger Verbena *Bonarienis #98 C *Peaches & Cream *Hastate #103 D *Florist Mix #103 C Virginia Stock #104- SPROUTED Zinnia *Envy *Apricot Profusion *Cherry Profusion *Lilliput *White Perfection *Thumbelina *Pastel Sunset *Cool Colors *Berry Basket *Peppermint Stick *Raggedy Anne Iris, daylilyÂs Iris *Siberian Iris #3 S *Bloudowii #2 A *Chrysographes #2 B Lily *Daylily-Mixed colors #5 & #6 *Ruffled Peach/Key Lime throat 5B #96 C *Deep Rose/Chartruese Throat 5C #96 A *Dark Pink/Lime Throat 5G #96 B *Ruffled Pink 5I #96 D *Acapulco Lily-Lilium (pink oriental hybrid with black marks) #97 *BlackBerry #4 Trees, Shrubs, Bushes Japanese Maple *Orangeola #1 Herbs Basil *Dark Opal *Profuma Di Genova *Window Box *Italian Cameo *Thai Queenette *Basil mixed packet of- Lemon, Lime, Cinnamon, Purple Osmin, Holy(Sacred), Genovese, Dwarf, Spicey Globe , Italian Large Leaf , Sweet *Basil mixed packet of- Lemon, Purple Osmin, Dwarf Greek Borage *Blue #93 C- SPROUTED Catmint *Pink Dreams #44 A- SPROUTED *Blue Infinity #44 B- SPROUTED *Blue Moon #45 A Chamomile *German ÂBode gold #93 D- SPROUTED Chives *Garlic #93 A Cilantro *Slow Bolt Dill *Dukat Leafy *Bouquet *Unknown Fennel *Smoky Bronze *Florence Finocchio Lavender *Hidcote #46 A- SPROUTED *Munstead #45 B *French Perfume #46 B- SPROUTED Oregano *True Greek Parsley *Italian Gigante Rosemary *French Sage *Common-Italian strain Sweet Marjoram Stevia Summer Savory Thyme *Orange scented #13 S *Old English #14 S- SPROUTED VEGGIES Strawberries *Alpine Mignonette #47 *Golden Alexandria #48 *Fragissimo Pink flower #49 & #50 Melissa1977

I know you don't want the trees to come down, but my concern is the proximity of the trees to the house. They are awfully close and could cause some damage either to the foundation or structure of the house. I would treat the bed as a full sun area since it gets the hottest sun of the day in the afternoon. This opens it up to things like lantana, autumn sage, dwarf ornamental grasses, etc. Try dwarf Hamlen grass since they make nice clumps only about 12 inches tall and are low maintenance. Rock rose would be another good one that would take some shade and bloom. I would also recommned backing up those perennials with something evergreen like Carissa hollies. You might have to install risers on the sprinkler system to reach everything, but those are very inexpensive and easy to switch out from the pop-ups currently in place.