Well yes, while business self-promotion is frowned on in these forums, and so I would argue with the decision to link to his/her website, KD is correct in saying that the first question in foundation planting should always be "do I need foundation planting at all?" Quite aside from it being kind of a mundane, cookie cutter look, plants at the foundation do not always grow well due to light coming from only one direction or inadequate rainfall due to eaves or the house creating a rain shadow, plus they make maintenance of both garden and house envelope a pain. Plants close the house also function as harborage for spiders and likely other insects and critters that I'd prefer not to think about. To post pictures here, open a free account on a photohosting site like photobucket. Load your pictures to your album on that site, then copy the HTML tag from the photo and paste it into the body of your message here. When you click on preview message, your photos should show up. When you post, specify the problem with which you need assistance... so far you've only said you need shrub suggestions, which actually your local nurseries are far better positioned to assist you with. If you need suggestions to help you overcome a design challenge, then by all means post away. Oh, and you might as well stay in the same thread to avoid filling up the forum with thread fragments. KarinL

It would be better if the bed were a bit deeper since right now the small distance front to back really limits what you can plant there to a single line of very narrow and probably small plants. With the relatively high porch and tall house, plants that reach as least as high as the porch floor will look best, and shrubs will be lowest maintenance. So having a larger planting space front to back will be the easiest to maintain. Are you willing/able to do that? I am thinking a minimum of 6' front to back, and perhaps swinging out on the right side to accommodate a small flowering tree such as one of the smaller crabapples or a variegated pagoda dogwood. At least one kind of evergreen shrub such as one of the smallest Thujas/arborvitaes and then either one flowering shrub such as a panicled hydrangea or a different evergreen would be nice, especially if you planted an evergreen groundcover under it. Just be sure that at its largest there will still be space behind the shrub(s) so there isn't rot on the porch from constant moisture; don't put in plants that fill the space initially since they will be too large in just a couple of years. 6 hours of afternoon sunlight, especially with the bright morning shade (no near buildings or overhanging trees) means that you most likely want to use sun plants. I like the generous width of the walkway and steps.

It will help to post a picture of the whole house from the street

@Design Girl I'm so glad you posted a picture of your lot from a distance. I could be wrong, but your slope looks like it could use some help with not washing away in all the rainfall we get here in the Mid-Atlantic. I was recently visiting an historic home from Jefferson's time and was impressed by the way the old trees held the soil in place. Where a tree died and was not replaced, the soil washed away and was now threatening the foundation of this old home. So... I can't help but suggest looking for a plan that put a mix of big native trees off to your left as you face your home from the street, and anywhere else you have such a slope. Will that block your beautiful view? If so, an alternative is a lot of time-tested shrubs with good spreading root systems. With slopes like those, you do not want to be dealing with just herbaceous flowers or even just a lawn.  Also, I love redbud too. Just realize they are relatively short lived. But maybe this is one tree worth replanting. Plant one every couple of years and you will always have one or two in your yard. Basically, you are planning for them to die off.