Looks like something on the order of Crinum x powellii 'Album'. This produces long-necked bulbs with leaves and flowers at the top. Do not cut the top of the bulb off!

I can't see your picture but the description reminds me of Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare var. crispum. Here is a link that might be useful: Google image results

snicker- you'd be dead before a daphne odora got that big. daphnes are great, but they have a habit of dying right around year 5-8, and they normally top out at about 3-4'. they grow slowly, to say the least, and are pricey, though the big boxes carry them for reasonable amounts compared to nurseries. do pop one in, just for the fragrance & looks, but put it in front of something taller. they need excellent drainage. another thought- hellebores would be nice to have a t the feet of some of your bigger stuff. they have long lasting flowers, can take poor soil and shade and thrive on neglect. they ain't cheap, and grow slowly, but they are worth it. if you can find someone who has them already, ask for seedlings- they self sow abundantly - and start that way. it'll be 3-4 years before you see blooms, but you won't regret it, and you'll forget they're there til then. camellias are easy. not high maintenance at all here. just pick the type you want based on the bloom you want and when (some bloom late fall & some spring) and the size, and be patient and let it grow. they'll do that faster with some sun and good soil, but will grow in shade; it just takes longer. if you can improve your soil, a 1 gallon plant, which would probably be about 12- 18" high, would probably get to 3-4 feet in a couple years. most camellias are going to get much larger than that though and you'll want to be careful in picking ones that match the size you want eventually to avoid trimming chores (most get bigger than what you're wanting). camellias have an nice shape naturally and shouldn't need too much fussing, unless you plant the wrong thing and it gets too big. i'd consider mixing and matching rather than doing all one thing. that way if you do have disease or insect problems, it doesn't wipe out everything. or if one dies down the road, you aren't stuck buying a huge one so you don't have a hole. a little variety in shapes and forms is much more dynamic in design, too. you can get a better range of color and scent and times of color as well. have fun with it!

OK. Understand your desire to plant something attractive and unique. Would steer clear of the beautiful cedars you mention because of their eventual enormous size, also Arizona Cypress. Suggest, instead, Italian Cypress which forms a slender column around 30' tall and comes in green, gold and blue forms. Also Skyrocket Juniper which forms a slender column around 10-15' tall and also can withstand drought and pollution. The thing I like about Boxwood is it can be shaped into stacked orbs, pyramids and spirals, all very attractive. Do you maintain the landscape at the Capital after planting? I used to work at TLC and can tell you that they have some excellent nurserymen and wonderful nursery stock there. They could give you some great pointers on what you are looking for. Good Luck! Jeanie