There are different ways to accomplish the same objectives, depending on your taste and what kind of garden work you like to do. If you like a densely-planted look, you can cut many plants back every year (usually right after they bloom, but look this up) so that they stay within boundaries. If you like a more spaced-out look, then you could reduce the plant density. You could perhaps move some of the azaleas to be among the roses? Even then, the plants will need pruning to continue to look nice - and because even for more space, they can get too big! I agree not to move shrubs at this time of year, but what I would suggest you do with the hostas while they are in leaf is separate out the green from the variegated leaves if you want to keep those as separate plants. Not sure how this happened - either you have a variegated plant that is "reverting" to green, or you got some root balls of one mixed in with root balls of another. You can do this in late summer once there is some prospect of rain, or if you do it earlier, be sure to water when you replant. Hostas are pretty tough plants anyway. Karin L

Your narrowed redesign with the curve leaves a narrow, awkward space at the wall, and isn't a good design detail from a usage or construction standpoint. I think the existing layout works well with the house design, and if sun and heat are the issues, would you consider adding an arbor over the area to create shade? The arbor could use members sized to relate to your extended roof rafters, Spanish Colonial style, perhaps with Saltillo tile pavers to replace the colored concrete. Otherwise, there are plants in larger sized containers that would be perfectly happy with the heat. Succulents such as Crassulas, Cotyledons, Echeverias, Kalanchoes, or heat loving plants like Plumeria, Euphorbia tirucallii 'Sticks on Fire', Pelargonium peltatum, etc. Alternatively, if you added a new narrow tree between the driveway and porch to give some shade, such as Callistemon viminalis 'Slim Jim' or Tristania laurina, Agonis flexuosa 'After Dark' or Acacia subporosa, it would help shade your entry.

Hi lazy-g, I miss the tree too! (But not the little crab apples.) We had about 18 years of beautiful blossoms, then a few years of diminishing blooms and finally a year of nothing (no leaves or blooms), so it had to go. At least the front room is nice and sunny now, and there's a small hydrangea tree now planted near there. The hydrangea will never be the same as the previous tree, but I'm hoping to sell in a couple of years so maybe the next family will plant another big blossoming tree.

Thanks Renee. It might not show up well in the photos, but the stonework around the porch has a lot of grey in it. And the door is a gray-toned blue. We also have a lot of rocks in the landscaping. So I guess I was wondering if I should play off those. I don't mind the brown, but just wondered if breaking it up would be better. I also questioned if a dark brown porch would be "too much" with the roof and the mulch.