Patty, those are beautiful roses! And I'm glad to hear so many good things about icebergs because I've now got three! The area is a long way from being done, but I'm very excited about the results. And Renee, I have to thank you again for your original response. The minute I read your comment about pulling the hawthorne from the wall and putting them in a grouping, the lightbulb went on over my head. I've been stuck in a "plants in a row" rut, which was why I just couldn't figure out how to pull the area together. This plan is exactly the effect I'd been going for. I just needed someone to point out the obvious to me. I've got more plants to bring in, namely some purples and some smaller perennials, but I've got the bones in with the addition of the roses and pink hydrangeas back in my shadier spot. I will probably refrain from planting too much more this year, as I'd like to wait to see how this all fills in first. Maybe annuals just for fun. And now I have a fun project to make a birdbath for the area. I've set the base where it will go, but I still need to construct a top. I really never expected this project to turn out so well, and I really owe it to all the great advice and suggestions here. You guys are awesome!!! Here is a link that might be useful: loribees garden blog

How bout a variegated dogwood? Pretty green and white leaves in the summer and red wood in the winter. I'm north of the cities as well in Anoka county sand and its been growing great for 2 years.

I'm with the stones-and ground cover crowd. I'd use big squares of bluestone or a concrete paver you like, plant vinca minor (the dark green small-leaved periwinkle), put in tons of daffodil bulbs to come up through it in the spring and be gone by the time you have to do maintenance, and mulch heavily so you can be patient for the two or three seasons it takes for the periwinkle to make a dense, thick mat. Absolutely worth the wait. And then, because the area doesn't go anywhere, I'd put an exterior grade full length mirror on the back skinny wall, surround it with natural trellising, plant a vine to cover it eventually (not ivy - a huge headache to control), and set a big birdbath just in front of the mirror. The mirror solves the dead-end problem and throws the light around a bit, the vine and trellis furnish and mask the wall, the birdbath gives you a focal point, the vinca is deep and soft, and the big stepping stones give the space some scale and a comfortable surface to walk down and to support the tasks of maintenance. A large-scale edited scheme like this would give your skinny little alleyway some real presence. It's a perfect "go big or go home" situation!

first.. figure out what to do with the downspouts ... next.. i would continue that flower bed across the front of the porch ... and maybe echo the corner ... trees would come out at least 20 feet into the lawn ... keep in mind.. foundation plantings are for hiding the foundation.. not planted on the foundation ... shrubs is a nebulous term .... it can mean way to many things ... what are you thinking ... conifers, often referred to as shrubs... might offer some winter interest ... but many can be way to big ... unless you pay the piper and get some true dwarfs ... and i agree.. you need a some vertical to offset you horizontal house and perennial beds ... that tiny thin bed between the walkway and the house??? .. a nice trellis between the picture window.. and the small window... and a clematis for the long term .. maybe a morning glory for this year .. but dont let it seed ... ken