More great ideas - thanks! I wish I could plant one of what everyone has suggested. :- ) Dave, you are right - winter interest does mean different things. I am flexible to some extent because I don't have much of any kind of winter interest at present. I have recently been putting in various types of evergreens in another area, though. For this particular area, I am looking more for something with good fall foliage color and winter color of some kind. I guess my preference would be berries or brightly colored bark. Berries, of course, may not persist all winter. Around the end of January, though, I start hankering after flowers! So I do like the idea of winter blooming plants as well. In the end, positioning of different plants may be based on what needs to be enjoyed close up (like fragrance) and what can be seen from inside on cold days. I do have other areas of the yard still to plant, with things that may not end up being right for this spot. It's beginning to sound like this particular spot may be well suited by the variegated red-twig dogwoods that have been mentioned, but I'm not sure yet. And I will certainly be researching (and planting) alot of the other suggestions in other parts of the yard! So many wonderful plants, so little time (and space and money...)!

I'm glad that I finally made you realize that it is not the lawmakers who make the decision to ban certain species, who are the ones with any level of expertise on the subject, but rather they rely on the information they receive from whatever special interest group has the most influence. It confounds me how you can sit there in the PNW and presume to tell me that I know little of conditions here in the NE where I've grown up. It may be comforting for you to blindly accept all government edicts without question, but I just don't have that much faith in them. It's attitudes like that which have us now spending billions of dollars, and accruing a deficit which will probably not be paid in any of our lifetimes. Let's say for a moment that you are correct, the government knows what it's doing and there is valid reason to ban burning bush and Norway maple here. It was government agencies who for decades planted both species along highways and city streets, and in landscaping in parks and on the grounds of their own office buildings. By your logic those actions were absolutely wrong and environmentally reckless, ie, they made a mistake. It's my opinion that they're wrong now. One of us is right, and one of the state's actions were wrong, leading to my main point that they do make mistakes and should be questioned, rather than obediently followed no matter what they decide to throw at us. It's convenient to assume that one has a lack of knowledge when they disagree with your opinion, but it is more of a gamble to ask that they back up their side with proof, and potentially bring some to show that you are wrong. That you have not provided a single example of how the two species in question have caused any real environmental damage, shows me that your self righteous opinion of my supposed misunderstanding and lack of experience of the subject is just a bunch of hot air.

Keep in mind that the Aronias will sucker and thicken up in a few years. But 3 Aronias in a 30 foot section is not much. You have room for a great many other shrubs. I'd group all three togther, then add other shrubs. You don't want the area to look polka dotted especially since it appears you're trying to keep the planting very narrow with only one layer to it.

Rosebush- veilchenblau is one of the very easiest i have to root. It's extremely vigorous (up to 20' canes!!), moderately thorny, scentless and only blooms once. But it covers itself when it does and it's a unique color. Plus it is very carefree- the jap beetles do gnaw some, but it bounces right back. Blackspot is never an issue for me. If you come to the swap, i'll be happy to bring some, or you can email me and we can meet up separately somewhere sometime. You'd be welcome to come here when they're all blooming- which should be 2 or 3 weeks at most. If you haven't made it to a swap yet, though- you really need to come!! Alicia, thanks for the thoughts on the roses. I guess it amazes me because even though they are glorious when they bloom it's fairly brief and it's not as though they're that interesting as foliage plants, though i do love the winter spring color. Most people seem to be so much more into repeat bloom and the more formal shape of the teas. The ones i have really are easy- i have never sprayed for anything- don't really do much but occasionally give them espoma, and prune when needed. Most of them only get about 4.5 hours of sun and have done well (the fence ones get more like 5- 5.5). I wish you could see Betty's spread. I doubt it'll ever be open for another open house because of their health. Knock on wood- so far the deer have left the roses alone since they're up front.