Just a comment on the north facing situation. It's the back of my house that faces due north. I'm in zone 6, which for me means very hot summers and winters with bitter cold, and cycles of snow - ice - thaw that can be plant killers. Throw in prairie winds out of the west and it's no fun right now. But my absolute favorite planting bed is a 9' x 20' border snugged up against the back of the house beside my back patio. I understand what you mean about the intense light in summer, but there may be a trick to it that will help you decide about what you will plant. I've watched how the shade line moves back toward the house as we move from spring up to the summer solstice (about June 21). At that point the shade line is about as close as it will get to the house itself. For me, there's a 3 ft band that is always in the shade. I don't plant that close to the house, but I do plant near that 3 ft mark. Those plants have access to growing some of their roots toward the shade. Plus the plants nearest the house are shaded through the days of the spring when the tilt of the earth thingy is moving that shade line. Anything closer to the house also gets the reprieve from the sun soonest as the shade line moves back in the other direction further and further from the house. In other words around the spring equinox (about March 21) the house shades an area extending beyond the bed and the patio. At that point everything is in complete shade and the plants are coaxed up from the ground by the warming earth and gentle ambient light. Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths poke up a little later here because they are kept cooler in the shade. Right at the sweet spot (about 5 ft from the house in my situation) a gorgeously robust clematis is beginning to need a little more space. It usually blooms long and then blooms again in the fall. So far I mostly have shade plants in this entire bed in spite of the fact that I know the afternoon light is coming. Kept watered, and tended, and mulched, I have been amazed at how well these shade prefering plants do. But ... I think it helps that as the earth's tilt again shifts the light southward, the shade in this area slowly begins to give its reprieve to these plants. I once used this bed for vegies ... just to see how that would go ... and the things that really love light to do well and are harvested in Aug and later, didn't produce much once they were tucked under the growing edge of the shade. Your situation is different, so you'll have to watch the light. On a sunny day in January the north side of my house is gloomy and significantly colder. The south side is the brighter warmer side. Anyway, my point is that you can work with this exposure and expect good results. There are all kinds of ways to create shade protection. A stepping stone in just the right spot is incredibly effective for keeping the ground moist and cool near a plant. I sometimes use that technique in addition to plenty of mulch. I love my north side beds and was actually planning to add hydrangia to my little playground in back. Wellspring

I'm going out of the box here and suggesting a tree shrub called "Harry Lauder's Walking Stick." It's also called "Corkscrew Hazel" and is in the hazelnut family. It's almost impossible to describe but it has a lovely weeping form with contorted branches, it is very sculptural. Google it to see pictures, and check out a few since not all photographers do it justice. I worked at a place that had one planed as a central specimen. It has yellow pendant flowers in the early spring, which are stunning, and it looks great in the winter due to it's twisting and turning branches. It is not quite as stunning in the middle of the summer although it still have a lovely form and lovely leaves then. There's no such thing as a perfect four season tree, but this one has two great ones, spring and winter. To me, a north country girl, the real test of a plant in my garden is do I love it in the winter, lol! The crabs are nice in late fall but not much in the winter. I agree that dogwood comes close to being a true four season wonder. Some of the japanese maples with interesting bark qualify too in my book. I think the weeping cherries look goofy in the winter, but some people like them and I could see the arguement in favor of them if you like the look.

From right showing more gravel. On the right is a concrete well cover with two panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora') on the sides and a japanese maple (Acer palmatum) further behind it. Next to the lamp post I'm planning to add a multi-stemmed tree. Looking from the entrance to the site the best position would be in front the lamp, but because of the driveway it needs to be place to the right of it from this angle. From between the house and garage Looking towards the sauna

That's amazing, thanks!