Be sure to check the expected mature size of the juniper compared to the size of the bed itself. I struggle with this myself by underestimating how big my stuff will grow and then am sorry later. You don’t want to be constantly climbing back there to trim it back.

The planting in straight lines make it all look like rows in a production nursery. And there is too little height variation, resulting in a flat appearance. Also with its low, spreading habit the juniper is the kind of thing that should be used at the front of a bed instead of the back.

How deep is that bed?

I would not plant that particular Juniper.

It can be deeper--if the junipers were the right choice. But if they're just too bulky to look good even in a deeper bed, I'll use something else. I thought about boxwoods, but they have such a different look. I was hoping to use a conifer that grows 3-4' tall.

I think it looks flatter than it would actually be. It would have more of a curved shape.

This is the link to the Conifers forum. They will be best to help you choose something for the foundation. I would make the conifer the priority and then choose the perennials after.

Pfitzer junipers ARE flat....and can get big! They grow out rather than up, in the shape of a flattened fountain. 4-6 feet tall, sometimes more, and 6-8' wide.

Often more than 15 ft wide.

Thank you. I will definitely stay away from junipers. That's what I suspected, but just wanted to make sure.

You don't give your location but is it possible you could use a broadleaved evergreen shrub instead of a conifer? They are far more likely to offer a rounded 3-4' height without the significant spread of the juniper.

Like a boxwood? Yes, that's an option, and it would work but I think they're slow growing. I was thinking about spireas even though they're don't stay green all winter. There are so many pretty varieties.

I found this inspiration photo. It might work well at my house. I'm in 5b. Does anyone know what the pink bush in the middle is? Is it weigela? I thought they were more squatty. If this isn't the right forum to ask, which is please?

Although you lose clarity when the photo is enlarged, I am pretty sure that is a red weeping laceleaf maple.

Boxwood is not the only BLE choice available to you :-) With careful selection, Japanese holly, rhododendrons, mountain laurel. Pieris japonica, Euonymus fortunei or 'Manhattan' could all work.

Thank you for the suggestions. I'm having a hard time deciding which BLE would look best. The photo of the design wouldn't let me copy or save so I took a picture of it on my screen. It should show better in this link. http://goodecoration.com/40-exciting-landscape-ideas-for-front-of-house/24/