Hostas comes in such a variety of shades and sizes, though keeping them watered is a factor. They also die back, which is probably a factor because these are front and center on your porch. Astilbe would be good for getting some flowers on there, even in the darkest shade, but also die back in winter. However, have you thought about Helleborus? Evergreen, early flowers, not too fussy (usually). Or some potted English Ivy, maybe a nice little topiary form (and so easily kept from spreading into ... well anywhere else). You could probably also do an upright Fuchsia, though I'm not sure if it'd be hardy there (the zone sounds like probably not, but in a covered porch maybe?). And with the annuals, as was said Coleous would be great, and have a wide range of sizes and colors (Kongs would be the biggest). Also Impatiens, Begonias, Abutilons, Lobelias ... there's a long list.

Hi Laura, For me the HOTTER the better..I have let my greenhouse go up to as high as 100 this time of year..The sun is still not high enough to burn my plants, especially with no leaves yet..But it certainly speeds the process up of making them start to leaf out.. My the time they do leaf out, I am getting inflo's and the greenhouse is then kept only as high as the nineties..they love this warmth... You know what I do to keep the temps in my greenhouse up to at least the 50's by night, when temps outside at night are still falling to the 20's? I use a space heater, sometimes two at once, and it stays toasty warm in there until the sun comes up again...If it is going to be a cloudy snowy, or rainy day, I keep them on all day. This works wonders to me...I was able to keep my greenhouse outside till December last year, so now I know I can start it much earlier this year, and make my plumies happier much quicker.. I will tell you that even if your temps go as low as the 40's by night, and warm nicely by day in the full sun, you will still see your plumies react quite nicely, better than keeping them indoors, unless you can give them 15 hours of sun and light, which can never compare anyways to just having them out in your greenhouse as you plan.. One more IMPORTANT thing I always do to prevent problems for mine.. I SPRAY THEM WITH A GOOD INSECT SOLUTION, AND WASH ALL THE TIPS AND STEM WITH SOAPY WATER..THEN I SPRAY WITH A GOOD MOLD PREVENTOR, SUCH AS "SERENADE", then I never have a problem with black tip rot or insects as the leaves emerge..No spidermite issues for sure..Hope this helps.. I am listening to everyone here about fertilizing and taken in other ideas, and I really appreciate it everyone! Good luck! Let us know how it goes, karyn, please... Mike..:-)

Are you putting stone or brick on top of the concrete on the porch? If so that could account for the extra height that is there now and when the stone or brick is down it will be shorter.

I think the teal color would be pretty and if you keep your yellow planters that would be a nice combo. Are you going to paint your shutters or the piece behind the light? The door knob and handle changed to a black would help tie it together as you have a black roof, a black light and some black brick. But from a safety point, I would like to make a suggestion: Have you thought about getting a wrought iron rail for the porch to keep your little one from falling off or when going up the stairs? If you removed the larger plant in front of the stair and added a black rail, this would be another design element (and safer too!).