Picture was taken in August, so not all shrub shown in their best, but provide interest when needed. This particular mix shrub border consists of (from left to right): -Weigela 'French Lace', -Callicarpa 'Profusion', -Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple', -Sambucus 'Sutherland Gold' (in background behind hydrangea. Look great in a spring as a yellow offset for purple smokebush), -Peony (covering spring's bare spot for hibiscus), -Hibiscus 'Lord Baltimore', -Spirea japonica, -another peony, -Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva', -another spirea, -Physocarpus 'Diabolo', -Caryopteris incana 'Sunshine Blue' (just young yet, but will be in a same 3-4' tall range as spireas), -another spirea (all 3 are different), -another H.paniculata 'Tardiva' and of course plenty of spring bulbs and different lilies and daylilies tucked in between shrubs. -

Thanks

Wanted to let you know I sent my seeds yesterday. Please let me know when they get there. Thanks again for hosting. Hugs, Lisa & Kayla NEW E-MAIL: watchingthegardengrow@yahoo.com

splaker(5a): For what it's worth, I think the consensus is to get rid of the ornamental grass. Logan L Johnson(NC Zone 7a) We're not doing a foundation planting. Are we doing a mixed border? Is screening a goal? I'm not sure. The goal, If I understand it, is to provide some visual interest and distract from the sapling, on the theory a lone baby tree can look sad on it's own. Or perhaps to frame the oak. Conifers are trees not known for shade tolerance. I'm not sure they are a great choices for under an oak. The big ones could compete with the adult oak and the dwarfs grow so slowly they may be shaded out before they come into their own. They are marginal in Zone 5, but I like holly. Grow slowly enough to be no threat to the oak but shade tolerant enough to have a fighting chance when the oak gets big. Also Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) Rhododendron. I do like the blue star juniper. You are probably overdoing and overthinking this. There is a temptation to clump all your plants together in one place, but if you do that they crowd each other. You don't have to put everything you want in your yard in this one spot.