From a design standpoint I might have planted the items in the opposite places--the liriope as a spiky edging at the bed-lawn interface, and then something contrasting behind it. I like a cut or dug edging but you lack any kind of plant demarcation to the grass, and so stuff is more floating in the bed. I can't tell if you intend to allow the "low-growing perennial" to spill over into the grass or just want a spot of something in the brown mulch. So I might consider using several perennial edging type plants as edging. This would provide an element of unity to tie together the more disparate plantings in the bed--though of course your fence provides that to some extent. While it can be easiest and most reliable use the same edging plant for the whole bed, I have seen some successful edging approaches in which there were a few feet of one type--lirope--and a few feet of lamb's ears, even some stretches of rock,and so forth. It takes some more skill and careful eye to do the combinations, and is not as strong an element as, say, a rock wall, but it can satisfy one's desire to plant more types of things and also works when growing conditions are somewhat different along the length of a long bed. The amount of room you have there isn't much once the liriope get going and fill out. Of course, it is a spot for something now. You don't need to take that suggestion to much to heart--I am not extremely good at accomplishing this in my own yard. But I have noticed that it makes an improvement in places where I have managed it. Also some of the design mavens here may be able to identify more important principles. I suspect that partly I'm being influenced by the somewhat aerial view; when you are at ground level, edging issues are not likely as prominent.

some bamboos are invasive... so you will need to research the full latin name of any that you are contemplating ... if in fact there is a z5 bamboo ... is there any chance you could give us some more fats as to size.. sun if any .. soil.. transplant size.. etc .... IMHO ... nothing grows FAST in shade .... whether things can tolerate shade is one issue.. but growing big.. fast is usually not going to happen .... but i will be corrected if my opinion is wrong ken

Well, I went ahead and did one order from Pickering to arrive in the Spring... this should go about halfway across the front of the HT garden, so I'll still need about 5-7 more (ugh!) Here is a list of the one's I went with, along with a couple others I found and really liked (besides, Pickering is discontinuing about 300 varieties) Soupert et Notting Jacques Cartier Duc de Guiche Robert le Diable Souvenir de Philmon Cochet (Rugosa,not for the border) Leda Juno White Pet I would really like to get Mystic Beauty, but it looks like Roses Unlimited is where I need to get it from, and I don't think they are taking orders til spring. Same for the Malmaison sports...Angel Gardens carries a couple also, but I'll wait till spring on those too. One day the garden will be exactly the way I want it to be...but I may go broke first! Just kidding :) But with the 25+ roses I've ordered for spring delivery so far, I'll be very busy this spring! I'm definitly still going to keep checking this link for any more suggestions anyone comes up with!

Thanks to both of you for the answers. The pictures were lovely! I do like your garden look. You replied even if you have large spruces with ground covers around it, it wont harm neither. The ground cover may try to crawl under the spruces, but it won't matter. Thanks for that statement. That is what my main concern was so now I feel better. What about something like a sea green juniper planted near a Colorado blue spruce? I don't know why but I thought I heard if you have a Colorado blue spruce and let low lying shrubs etc grow into them that the Colorado blue spruce tree quits growing where it touches the other shrub hedge etc. Do I need to be concerned about that? Can various evergreen shrubs of various sizes be planted in the bed with the Colorado blue spruce trees? And yes they will no doubt in time grown together. Is this all bad? Or do you remove the evergreen shrubs as the trees and the shrubs get larger and closer together? Thanks again!