Since you have so much space to work with and seem to be pretty open as far as plant suggestions, I would suggest you get a newbie seed packet from Bakemom from the link below before ordering seed. You will probably get many of the seeds you are looking for and then some you didn't even know you wanted. It will be a while before all those trees and shrubs fill in so I would encourage you to experiment with lots of different annuals and perennials to see what you like. Cram as many in as you can without totally covering up the trees and shrubs. Then as the trees and shrubs start to take off you can remove the plants you don't like as much to make room for them. Over the years your yard will gradually transition from sun to shade anyways with all those trees, which will change what types of plants you can grow beneath them. Mother nature doesn't like bare ground, so any of the mulched area you leave unplanted will be planted for you with weeds! Also if you want a quantity of some specific cultivars that cannot be grown from seed you can get divisions from other gardeners or just buy your own and divide them regularly to fill in. Many of those are common landscaping plants that are readily available come spring or as clearance plants in summer/fall. Many on your list are also easily divided and some require it frequently to look good anyways. Dividing large clumps of miscanthus and siberian iris can be a real chore, so I hope you have a good back. Here is a link that might be useful: Bakemom's Newbie Seed Project

I looked at your page and had to tell you - love your groundskeeper! I have zebra grass that I just got this summer and potted it up, rather than put in the ground. I was told I could keep it in a pot over the winter and that it'd do ok. Do you agree or think I should try to get it in the ground before it freezes around here? Thanks, Harriet

Mine usually is about 3 feet tall before it gets the cross-wise bands.

Lisa Ann -- I fully support your thoughts on trying out a Strictus if you are really a fan of the banded grasses and have a hot spot with good late sun that can bring out the best in the grass. That said -- to you and anyone else willing to listen to a guy with 54 grass varieties in the yard -- if you don't have a 'Morning Light' Miscanthus yet, get one and plant it next spring. I can not speak highly enough of the beauty of a mature clump of that grass. Amazing, subtle, sublime, stunning. I sometimes just look at it with love for minutes at a time. As it's name suggests, it looks best in a place where you can see early (or late) light through its leaves. Ohmigod!