While you might create a garden that is cute or pleasing to the eye (I can't tell) it's highly unlikely that you will solve any landscape problems or create a landscape that enhances specific traits of the architecture, as it seems the architecture is not part of the equation you are solving for.

What Yardvaark is saying that designing a garden bed is radically different than landscaping your home. If you want help with the existing bed rather than landscaping your home, try the garden forum. Among the things you will learn there is not to place plants in straight lines in beds. And if you ask, you'll get some tips on how best to combine bulbs, which will die back and disappear, with perennials and/or shrubs.

You will find the rocks that line the bed to be a major maintenance problem as grass gradually inserts itself between them.

I think you need bigger plants. What about a couple of knockout roses? Also, I'd repeat more of the plants you have. And some evergreens if you are up north. I did a bed with peonies, iris, crocuses, and daffodils (so far) abs regret not adding some more evergreens to make it less bare in the winter. Re hyacinths, I'm in love with Roman hyacinths from old house gardens. They are pricey but multiply! And they have a different look than the standard ones, more wild looking.

I think you at least want an evergreen that hides the concrete base of the stairs. Some vines up the stairs might be pretty.

The picture is confusing. Don't you want to come down the steps and INTO the yard? And once in the yard, wouldn't you prefer not to see the cars in the driveway?

I like your choices of flowers but you need more space for them. The walkway and parking lot are too narrow and very close to the flowerbed. Plants need to be farther from the high traffic areas ... Can you show more pictures of your frontyard to unersand more how much space do you have?

The pavers seem busy and not appealing.

Kiminpl, you are thoughtful and constructive. Thank you. This is the kind of support I am seeking as I mentioned, I am very bad with gardening- the pure definition of ROOKIE! I grew up in a large city with cement all around me. Now as a married adult with new family, I've moved to a rural area & am trying my best to learn to live a completely different lifestyle. So I appreciate the advice. I'll take a picture of the front and submit it tomorrow. I agree that I would like to have a garden that flows nicely season to season. I just don't know what I need for that. I am in Pennsylvania

@Vstavay, TY. I will post pic tomorrow. The white van is usually the ONLY car in driveway. That was a guest car parked by garden which will not be there normally

You'll get it yet! I have a long way to go in figuring out how to do this kind of stuff. Personally I would not do the rocks that border the bed, but I guess that's just personal preference.

If you intend to walk on the stepping stones, I would remove the small stones at the edge of the pavement. I would trip on them. Be sure the pavers are snug into the gravel -- bury them part way, and make sure they are fully supported, stable, and level, not rocking when stepped on, otherwise they will crack. (Ask me how I know!) The black mulch is your friend, showing off the plants and feeding the soil at the same time, helping to retain moisture. The plants will fill in over time. If they don't, add more. A dwarf evergreen or larger flowering bush would look nice next to the landing just beyond the steps. Nothing too big, maybe 3 ft. tall and wide. It would help give some presence to your bed. It could be something temporary like a Shasta daisy, or a more permanent evergreen.

I sort of get why the stakes and cloth are there to retain the gravel, but it will look better disguised with more of your rocks, or larger plants sort of covering it. Maybe the mulch will do it.

When you plan to do walkway , think if it enough space for two -four people . This is the entrance to the house and the wider it is, the more comfortable it will be to walk. Flowerbeds don't need to be an obstacle to the house . The more plants you want to grow, the more space you need for them.

I like your ideas for landscape design, and your choices are also good: purple salvia and black-eyed Susan's/purple cone flowers. But if you want to have a more unique and attractive front yard landscape design, you should get professional advice. My sister hired a professional from Landscape Structures & Designs Inc. If you’re interested in landscape, you can contact them as they have many options.

@kiminpl thanks again!!! Yes I hear you on the stakes and gravel. I plan to hammer the plastic border down so it's more level with the gravel/mulch and cut the fabric. I was working on that when it started to rain. I'm going to a garden center this weekend and will pick an evergreen and/or flowering bush.

What do you all think of a forsythia, azalea or rhododendron? And where should I place them?

Also interested in these but again- need advice on which is best, where to place & can I include some of the above (forsythia, azalea, rhode). Options: red burning bush shrub, blueberry bush, green velvet boxwood, Dwarf Cryptomeria. Can you tell I've been googling a lot tonight? Found these are good for my zone 6.

if full sun, rhodies and azaleas will be unhappy. If soil is not acid, they and the blueberries will be unhappy. Burning bush is considered an invasive in most states. Most readily available forsythias are very large, and except for the two weeks when they are in bloom, aren't much to look at and certainly not suited to an up front position.

This is a full sun area for those who can help me with suggestions on what I can put down. I live in zone 6 & many neighbors on same side of the street do grow azalea & rhododendrons successfully. I'm not opposed to any suggestions on what would look good here as a flowering bush, including dwarf evergreens & dwarf conifers. TIA

if This helps- I think I narrowed it down to wanting a purple rhode, pink azalea and

Euonymus fortunei Emerald Gaiety AGM

just need help with placement and I don't mind moving some perennials around if I have to. I also like the dwarf blue juniper but don't know if this all fits in nicely?

i believe for a general idea they all grow to ABOUT 4' tall, 3-4 ft wide and I could always prune them to an appropriate height