Aggie, the journey can indeed be frustrating and paved with failures. but each failure is a learning experience. What people with experience can do is help you identify the lesson, and maybe also help you to differentiate the possible from the impossible, but don't let anyone rob you of the journey or of giving it a try. At the risk of repeating myself, you are asking a lot of yourself to get both your foundation planting and your flower gardening out of one spot. If colour and seasonal variation are really important things for you, I really would suggest you consider adding a bed somewhere to give yourself more opportunity in better growing conditions - and that is tough to do nicely if you don't make a new bed out of the same stone. But maybe you can do that. The other thing that is a bit uphill for you is that you can only get so much uniqueness when your plantings are in the same PLACE as everyone else's. I suspect in your old neighbourhood, there was variety in WHERE in the yard people put their plants, as well as variety in what plants they had. If I drive through the neighbourhood, everyone's plants are probably at the foundation, and if only the details vary, the overall impression is still very similar. So your bed at the foundation is working against your desire to do something original on two counts. But it can be done... if you haven't already asked in the conifers forum, ask there for some suggestions for specialty conifers that would do well in these conditions. You do need evergreen plants - the bones, so to speak - and they can be broadleaf or needled evergreens. If you want a lot of variety in your flowering plants, you might enjoy having repeats of some interesting evergreens... I keep thinking of Chamaecyparis 'Wissel's Saguaro' but that might just be because I like it a lot. No idea if it works in your conditions. Even boxwoods would look good as consistent, repeated forms to offset the variety. If, on the other hand, you want consistency in the flowers (all purple petunias or peach roses), then go for variety in the conifers. Who knows, you might develop a talent for topiary :-) Some of my favourite yards are amazing topiary confections. I don't have the patience or the discipline for it though. Then you can do amazing things with quite ordinary plants. Pruning makes all the difference between green blobs and interesting shapes. Broadleaf evergreens will also offer some options for you; try asking for advice at a couple of nurseries - not big box stores. I don't know if the Ilex family would work or not, but if so, Ilex 'Mariesii' is a lovely plant - varies in form, can have some fun with it. Whitecap is right that people like me from outside your area may not be much use for specific plant recommendations, but we can help with form, and process. I've linked below to a site that explains the principles of landscape design in a way that I like. It doesn't all translate to the design of a single bed, but you can maybe play with some of the ideas. Karin L Here is a link that might be useful: Principles of landscape design

lol Thanks for the comments and suggestions, people, I really appreciate it. I know that this is all just a work in process and most likely never-ending. The white stones rolling onto the sidewalk makes me laugh, because I am already constantly kicking them back onto their pile. lol I'll have to do something with the hedge, I appreciate the suggestion, but I'm still a little unsure of what you mean, catkim. If you read this, could I trouble you to explain one more time, please? Thanks in advance! Also, the fine mulch is a good idea, I think. The mulch that I had and returned were actually pretty large chunks. I like the idea of dealing with less weeds, I just spent a bit of time digging a whole whack of them out of this little area. Can I buy compost at a garden store? Should it be put down first, as a fertilizer, before any mulch is thrown down? Another question about the hedge: If I have mulch down and then I start to trim my hedge, I can see this being a pretty big headache trying to pick up the trimmed pieces of hedge from amongst my mulch on the ground. Any suggestions here? I'm sure I'll think of more questions, but I do thank you again everyone. PS, looking at these last pictures I've posted, my garden looks absolutely sad. I'm sure many of you wouldn't dare post them if this were yours. It is looking better already though, I assure you. Thanks! Andy

I haven't been able to try sitting in the chair as they don't have it on floor display at the two west elm stores in my area, but it looks comfortable and I have generally found most of their furniture to be pretty comfortable. I was hoping that the everett chair would balance out the very antiquey look of the chesterfield sofa and the needlepoint chair.

without taking into consideration the floorplan, the "best place" for the front door is replacing one of the windows on the right side.... that could give you room for a really nice porch. since the current door is going into that space sideways, there is hope....