They are (clearly) long lived and flourish in the temperate UK climate so yes, they are astonishingly common here - almost every garden I have worked in has a clump or 2 stowed away. However, I also have to say that nearly all of them are stashed in a shady, often damp area...and planted very meanly (just 1 or 2 bulbs). When I see a thriving naturalised colony, upright in open grass, I could be persuaded to enjoy them but sadly, it is a rare occurrence to see one which is not squished on its side in sodden soil under a shrub (where cyclamen really do emerge victorious). I agree, PosieRosie, autumn bulbs are often overlooked. I have only really started growing them since acquiring more space...and the often rank, vigour of an English September/October seems to call for rampant sturdy perennials rather than dainty bulbs...and in sun, I for sure have been still engrossed in the summer delights of dahlia, salvias, hesperanthus, alstroemeria...with a complete reluctance to admit tasteful pastels. Trying to get to grips with my quite visceral dislike of colchies - not wanting to offend growers who love them.

I saw this picture a month or so ago, had some thoughts, and didn't put them down. I see it now and there is so much potential! I personally would add some semi-tall (2-4 feet or so?), informal perennials. My line of thinking would be maybe some Anise Hyssop, Agastache, Russian Sage, etc. They are so nice and sweeping and they would soften the look of the garden. I also believe I read that you didn't want anything too overly tall along the porch itself. I would put some of what I suggested above (hyssop, etc.) along the porch to soften those hard edges of the porch. Those are very hard edges and lend a very formal look to the area. Maybe for a small amount of height, you could add a small tree to the corner where the house comes out? I am on a very small lot so I have to make do with what I have, so I've learned a lot. My little cottage garden surrounds my dwarf plum. Also, I have found that the giant sunflowers add some nice height when you don't want the yearly maintanence of trees. Personally, I would not plant the same exact things on both sides because once again that can lead to a rather formal look, but I know the feeling. I'm facing the same issue on my front porch. Also, a clematis would look great going up that big brick pillar you have on the porch. I really do think though, that if you plant a very natural, sweeping, somewhat tall perennial along the front porch, that it will soften the look of the garden considerably. I'm assuming you're going for a more informal/cottagey look? I'm not sure what Annie thinks, but the hyssop I've grown, and also phlox (which would look great against the porch) both do equally well for me in part sun or full sun. There may be slight differences in the number of flowers and height but nothing major. I am just trying to give some suggestions that don't necessitate redoing any of the hardscaping. And I'd agree with Annie, an arbor wouldn't look quite right with a ranch. Now, a pergola going down the whole walkway...with horizontal accents...that would look quite nice!!!! My Mom has lavendar lining the walkway to her front door. The scent is just wonderful all summer long. Same with anise hyssop. I'd highly recommend it. I personally am not a fan of evergreens, but that's just my opinion, it's certainly not a fact or a rule! We had an arborvitae at the old house, and I grew a clematis up it to soften the look of it. Give us an update on the gardens, OaklyOke!

Ouch Wendy, those pics are painful...I hope your "splint" works on that maple. Overall, it was a great winter for perennials. Last November, during Veteran's Day weekend, Mahoney's had a sale on their perennials and grasses, $5 each. I just couldn't help myself, I went down 4 days in a row and pots kept jumping onto my cart...55 pots in total! (That would be $275 worth of perennials/grasses). So then I was faced with, what the heck do I do with 55 pots for the winter (along with a few already in the pot ghetto)? I planted a few, sunk most of them into the ground, and overwintered about 15 in the pot ghetto, covered with leaves. Well, with all the snow cover, it was a great winter for the "herbaceous layer" and it looks like almost all of the plants in pots have survived just fine! However, my baby shrubs that are in holding beds are another story. Most of them suffered some breakage because of the heavy snow. A small Elderberry lost most of it's main branches. But they are all budding out. Little to no damage on the broadleaf evergreens this winter though! That's a good thing.

I'm not sure what your situation is, but where my parents live in the midwest (also zone 5) they have a ton of Japanese beetles. Those insects LOVE roses. It might be worth trying some hardy, once-blooming, old-fashioned roses (gallicas, for example) to see if you can get your roses to bloom and be done by the time the beetles show up. Some of the super hardy gallicas will do fine without winter protection (so many other roses in zone 5 will die without a rose cone, or at least some mulch piled over them for the winter). If you want suggestions of once-blooming, hardy old roses for cutting, post a message on the antique rose board. You mention your yard being quite wet -- that could make growing roses difficult. You may need to do something to improve the drainage for them, because they don't like to sit in water. I would also suggest finding a spot in your yard for a lilac and some hydrangeas. They won't bloom constantly, but they are nice for cutting.