Maybe you could define - for yourself if for no one else - what "special" means to you. There are so many ways that shrubs can be special, especially from a close-up perspective. Let me give you an example. I know that I am a foliage gardener first, and I am also a plant minutiae gardener who likes to see things changing every day, and always having something to anticipate. For example, my favourite plants next to my front steps are Anemonopsis macrophylla, a perennial that takes months to form these little ball-shaped buds and then another eon to open them. Maybe I'm an easy mark, but I watch and enjoy that plant all spring and summer, same with a fern on the other side that unfurls huge fronds one at a time all summer. So for me, no matter how wonderful a flowering display might be (say, lilacs), the undistinguished foliage and (lack of) form of the plant makes it dull for me, especially because if something like that is next to the deck, by the time you can sit out there, there is nothing more to look forward to with it. It's done for the year. Your preferences may be totally different. You may be focussed on fragrance, or bloom colour (I go plant shopping with a friend who is into pastels. We never fight over a plant. If it's pink and fragrant she buys it, if it's orange and has great leaves, I do). Let me start by asking if your rhododendron diagnosis means no rhodos in that spot again? I fortunately haven't had to learn that. But if not by the deck, then perhaps in the other spot? There is a plethora of Rhodos with fabulous foliage and good form, but you have to hunt them down (such as the legendary Sir Charles Lemon that never blooms but with leaves like that, doesn't have to). I personally avoid the ones that turn into green blobs, have undistinguished foliage, and bloom in trusses (I'll flex on the last point to get the first two right). Now, here's the trick. If you know what you want, you may be able to get it from quite a common shrub. My little laugh at myself is that I have spent probably thousands on special shrubs (not kidding, I'm afraid), but of those that have survived, few have given me the enjoyment that a garden-variety blue hydrangea has - one left behind in a pot by the previous owner; I don't even know what it is. Similarly, because mock orange takes a long time to get its act together each year, I actually really enjoy it (and that might be good for the spot beside the deck but some do get huge... and maybe they can in that spot). I'm not going to check zones for you, but here are a couple of shrubs I have enjoyed that might work by your deck: Disanthus, Loropetalum fire dance, Fothergilla, and unlikely but true, Rose of Sharon/Hibiscus - in my case, Red Heart. Love the branch structure and grey trunk of my hibiscus. On that note, you might also consider one of the smaller special bark trees, like an Acer griseum or Japanese maple with the stripe bark attribute. Yes, the maples are OK in part sun/shade. And you probably can't grow Edgeworthia, but if you can.. Beside the deck too you might consider specialty conifers. Once you get into them, there are some to die for. Tougher to find one that would work in more shade. Of the shrubs mentioned so far, I have to say I was all excited about getting an Itea, but in real life: deadly boring. In particular, in my climate it needs good sun to get its famed fall colour. Kalmia too, I just couldn't get too excited about it. Final word, I promise: by the wall, anything deciduous will lean for the light. I would recommend evergreen for sure there - rhodo if you can. Alternative: put a big focal point container there with something in it that you like. Karin L

bahia - thank you for your many wonderful suggestions, I will research all of them. The 'Charles Grimaldi' is beautiful and just the size I'm looking for. I might limb it up even more to form a more umbrella-like canopy for a more see-through structure. I'm also considering a large Schefflera tree like the one we have in a similar spot elsewhere in our backyard. It doesn't flower (at least not yet). It did have some black leaves when our winter temps dipped to 26 degrees one year, but recovered nicely.

If you went with a medium grower, the spread would be alright for that space. Crape myrtle blooms on new wood only. That is why many people insist on pruning the myrtle in the fall, cutting the branches back so that when it grows again the next year, it will bloom on the new growth and not outgrow the space. Crape myrtles live very comfortably in very little root space. That is why they are planted in parking lots and next to side walks quite often, they can put up with alot of abuse, and still flourish. The medium size one I bought was very little, and it will take quite a few years for it to get to the 8-10 foot size that was on the container, but when it does get too high, or in your case, the spread oversteps your bounds, you can just cut it back good in the fall, when all the leaves fall off. There are quite a few web sites on the internet that have the different varieties and their characterstics but I found to buy them when they are blooming is the way to go. That way, you will see exactly what the flower looks like so you are satisfied with the color. Usually private nurseries will have a nice selection, and hopefully, they would have hired someone you can speak with about the size. The real small dwarf crapes are also gorgeous. THey don't grow too tall at all, take up less space and grow nice together, so that is also a nice alternative. They are small though, but the space you have is more than adequet for a couple or three of them, and you can mix them up if you want. Mabey a purple, a pink and a white. I'm talking about the real small ones, they don't grow very big at all. But they will flower if they are planted in rich soil and fertilized every year. Mabey put a cute little staute of something in front of them.

Not only do I have to get permission from the local government, but this server does not allow me to see photobucket, so I have not seen the drawing. I will check tonight when at home. Meanwhile, I really like your ideas! I took a stroll yesterday evening and tried to envision panels and cutting back the wild stuff. I have someone coming in today who can help me with the heavy work (for a price, of course). Then I modified my original idea and kept to the budget. Canvas! great idea! Also the end of the lot closest to the picnic table near the gate of the fence, well, I was thinking of putting a pyrimidal trellis and planting clematis, so great minds and all that. Now that the box seems to be crumbling, I have been looking at outdoor plant racks and large box containers for raised gardens and looking at everything from different angles. When all done I can I will post pics. Thanks again!