What are the plants in the back, near the fence? They look like hydrangeas, but I can't tell.

To my mind, it is either too formal, or not formal enough. The almost-but-not-quite rows looks off. It can go either direction, but pick one. If you go formal, I'd recommend a defined path of some sort to the birdbath.

What strikes me is that the birdbath area has dark soil that makes it disconnected with the white rock area. Does the birdbath area get too much sun to grow a silver-foliaged ground cover (Lamium 'White Nancy' perhaps...?) which could unite the two areas into one visual whole without needing to use the white rock? (I suspect a lot of that rock will ultimately be a PITA!) With the whole space looking more unified, the placement of the individual plants in the birdbath area would likely be less important. It would be good perhaps to repeat whatever the mounding plant with red flowers in the white area is by adding some to the birdbath area too.

I was also going to suggest a path to the birdbath and maybe do plants in 3s on either side of it.

Thanks for your comments and spelling corrections, I am usually good at spelling but when you put peri instead of pere in spell check it made it wrong, my bad .

The plants are hydrangeas and the rock may look white, but it is creek rock. I wonder if we should put the same rock by the birdbath instead of mulch? My big dilemma is where the coral bells, grasses and hostas are. There were 3 coral bells there, but one didn't make it. I didn't know if epimedium plants might go somewhere? The red plants are impatients, and I have them in 2 big pots also, would like to put some other shade annuals for color in next year too.

Thanks again

What a very nice space and garden! Part of the issue might just be your plants are not fully grown. My big hosta took 5 years, but given that, I agree you are so close, but something feels a bit off. The trouble is that all your plants are the same size and shape - mounds of medium size. There's a feeling that everything is static.

I agree with mad - you are verging on the formal, but have a rather informal spacing. If you go formal, create a geometric type pattern and use that as a planting guide. For instance, a ring of some type of flower around the bird bath (carpet roses? A colorful ring of coral bells?), a backdrop line of hydrangeas which should be allowed to get at least a bit taller than the bird bath, with the other sides lined by hostas and all the rest filled with ground cover or lower growing perennial of your choice (various shade choices abound). This will give the mounds meaning and purpose! Also, I would more encourage a more natural shape to the hydrangeas (as opposed to a clipped hedge) so the texture can add interest.

For less formal, I would suggest creating height at the back or near the middle behind the focal point and then trying to create interest by having different plant shapes, textures and colors with the general guidance of the plants getting smaller as they approach the viewer. Some of the larger ferns for an airy/spiked texture towards the back would be fun and a nice contrast to what is already there. A giant hosta is always fun tucked in there as well. The variegated grass that you have looks amazing interrupting a formal path by spilling over into it. I would for an informal garden bring them upfront to play a bit with the clean lines of your paths.

I would suggest to remove the line of bushes by you sitting area as I would want to have it seem like an extension of the garden and a hedge feels like a barrier. I hope you find some use in my suggestions - you have such a nice area to work with!

Not "your bad" but "your funny" I've been distracted by that topic since it appeared. A friend recently texted me with an obscenity I've never heard her use. Spellmistake (as I call it) just preempted her intentions.

Thanks posierosie, also for the compliments. I think it is a very pretty area that needs a little tweaking, that is why I was asking for suggestions.

Our plants are going on their second year, that is why the hydrangeas are small. I don't understand the formal and informal. Are you talking about just the area by the birdbath, wasn't sure.

Yes, a lovely space and I was definitely talking about the birdbath area although it was meant as an example to carry towards the foundation area.

I'm not a student of landscaping or garden design. That said, I think of formal as consistenting of trimmed hedges, repetition, symmetry and geometry. Click here (https://www.google.com/search?q=formal+garden&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=ismvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj80_-M7JvWAhVKs1QKHSE1A0UQ_AUIESgB&biw=320&bih=460) formal gardens images.

I would think of an informal garden like a cottage garden or some of the more modern gardens that go for a feeling of a natural field. Here are some images https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&hl=en-us&biw=320&bih=460&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=Mdy1WeHHA8GXmQHzuZy4Cw&q=informal+garden&oq=informal+garden&gs_l=mobile-gws-img.12..0i67k1j0l4.12635.12942.0.13553.2.2.0.0.0.0.182.296.0j2.2.0....0...1..64.mobile-gws-img..0.2.294...0i13k1.nzX1YrmVivo

That really helps , thank you so much! I need visuals.

Certainly! Do you know which way you are leaning?

Definitely informal perennials with some annuals every year.

That's my favorite as well. :). I think adding texture and differences in height will go a long way.

My thought upon viewing your photo were the same as Mad's. The two level backdrop stuck out to me more than the hosta area, but that just might be an age/growth stage issue. I might attempt to fill in the hosta area with some groundcover. My hosta looks great with sweet woodruff. You might also consider varigated Jacob's ladder. I don't have much experience with it but I am seeing it all over now on the nurseries.