Clematis, but buy a plant that is at least already three years old.

Depends on where you live, how hot your temps get and the average amount of rain you receive. but a far share of perennials in my area don't bloom all summer. I use annuals, zinnias, marigolds, moss rose and cosmos in my gardens. . They give me all summer bloom and I never water them.

I thing the trellis would look nice. Maybe someone who is well versed on climbing roses could give you a recomendation for one that blooms most of the summer.

Zone 5 Illinois

I also considered a shepards hook with hanging baskets. Or do you like the trellis idea better?

Hi Kim, just wanted to say your last pic looks like a mandevilla in the pot with the trellis. We have several that bloom pretty much year round but we’re in Southern CA. You likely know they’re tropical, so be sure to protect it from the cold.

Oh yes. This would be an annual for me here in the Midwest. My daughter picked it out and thought I’d try the trellis idea out, but I’m second guessing the look for my home. I’m more wondering if anyone might have a suggestion as to yes or no to the trellis…hanging baskets from a hook or some other tall narrow shrub with color that could be planted behind the first three boxwoods to the left of the stairs. What are your thoughts?

Please no more stuff added onto that busy house . Yes you need color and much bigger beds and a different front door this is not a victorian home why a victorian front door . Get rid of the shutter they justa dd tot he confusion on the house what are the stairs they stick out like a sore thumb. IMO no hanging country baskets . Nice deep foundation plantings with a mix of evergreen and colorful plants.

Your home is beautiful, and to me the hanging baskets on your verandah and the pot of flowers beside your front door add the color. Not a pro, but what is bothering me is your entryway steps. Are they going to be painted?

As a sidebar-keep an eye on the retaining wall in front of the boxwoods; it’s hard to tell from the pic but it might be in the beginning stages of failure, judging by the gaps in the wall. The shrubs might be too close to the wall and the root system is pushing it out, or water is eroding the soil. You might get a landscape professional to take a look.

I agree with Patricia. No trellis. Remove the shutters, potted plant, and hanging baskets. Invest in a new, plain front door. Do something (paint?) to change the color of the front steps -- perhaps a creamy white to match the stone on the house. Add a railing to the right side of the steps to match the existing railing on the porch. Remove all the round boxwood shrubs and the grass. Enlist the services of a professional landscape designer to decide on the best placement of green and flowering plants. Perhaps put trailing plants in the stone planting box in front of the porch to trail over the stone "wall."

Why not just remove everything. Lol. I love your house. It has character and is unique. Variety is the spice of life. There are sooo many ho-hum/boring cookie cutter houses out there now. I like to hang my baskets from nice chains. It is easier to reach to water and receives a little extra sunshine. I do agree with a railing on the steps though for safety.

I would agree that the shutters and the door are fighting each other. I'd prob change the door if affordable and leave the shutters. The modern window with the arch is also somewhat incongruous. If this were a forever home, might want to change that out. I'd play up the cottage aspects of this charming home. A trellis would be nice, and my fav climbing rose is Zepherine Droughin. Also, super small point but I think your hanging plants would be nice if they were a little lower - get some extra chain and bring them down a bit.

You asked about landscape color and whether to add a trellis. I don't know why people feel compelled to critique your home and suggest structural changes. It's a charming home and as functionthelook said, ignore suggestions to turn it into something cookie cutter. You don't have to defend the choice of the front door to anyone. Sheesh!
You can bring in so much color simply by using plants with different color foliage...you don't need flowers, esp in the winter. Maybe reconsider some of the boxwoods. They are getting a bit crowded and, while the green is nice, I think you can do better. I might consider, instead of a trellis, reworking that line of boxwood by the truck and plant a tree that would add some color and interest year round. Maybe like a coral bark maple that has nice foliage 3 seasons and beautiful bark and twigs in the winter. I don't know if they grow in your are, but something similar surely does. It's hard to tell from the pics if that's far enough from your house for a small tree or not, but a pro landscaper could help with that.
I'm not suggesting this style landscaping, just showing how much color you can get with foliage alone and a few flowering shrubs mixed in. There are winter flowering shrubs, too, tho again I don't know about your area.

coral bark maples...

Thank You everyone for the suggestion so far. Believe it or not a professional landscaper drew up this plan Originally. I have a few calls out for a professional to help on the backyard, but I was hoping for simple changing now to help add color. I guess there is more problems in the front then I thought. Geesh. Lol
Unfortunately my husband will not change anything that is style in good shape. I can paint but not buy new. Front door and shutters stay for now. I painted the shutters last year and I think the color is off. Maybe if I changed that they would stick out so much!?!?!
Love the idea of lowering the hanging baskets with chain. I also like the variety color in the foliage. I don’t however think my husband will allow these boxwoods to go. What if I pruned the ones in front of the front porch way down then added infront if them? I don’t like their current funky shape.

Here can be my inspiration. It’s brick and stone with shutters. Down the line I would like a similar door.
Funny, I just came across this pic online, but I realized I’ve visited this house on a local “pond tour”.

Okay. Another idea…ditch the trellis.
Add smooth stones around the base of the right side retaining wall with a little birdbath near the steps. Trim back the boxwoods and add yellow and purple perennials in front. Lower the hanging baskets.
To the left of the steps add an ornamental tree. I wouldn’t be removing any of the boxwoods to keep husband happy but putting in the middle where the current Carl forest grasses are.

Kim, don't trim the boxwood to add annuals for color. In the winter, when the annuals die, the boxwood might look terrible. Maybe ask your landscaper for ideas? You could also think about planting the area with grass to the right of the steps with some foliage plants that aren't deciduous and intermix annuals with those.