I would start with some practical questions, which can be useful with the short-term plans, and can help you set the 'bones' for your longer-term plans. And can help you keep things simple. Might help with the 'stuck' thing.

Where on that porch do you want shade, either from shrubs/small trees or trellises with climbers? Sun in the morning and shade in the evening? And do you want a blocking of vision from the road to feel that the porch is more private? Or would you rather have that view more open? Which way does the prevailing wind come from? Depending on where you are, you may want to leave that breeze corridor open, or you may want some buffering.

If I had that porch, I would want to just plain live on it [jealous grins]. But is there another area to the back or side of the house where you might want other outdoor-living spaces.... Barbecue/picnic areas, play areas, a patio, whatever? Or is that front porch likely to be the focus of your outdoor-time?

Once you've thought about all this stuff, you will have an idea about where to place some of the 'bones'. Shrubs, small trees, trellises, any walls, fences, whatever.

Then, *around* those bones, you can keep developing plans for later, and can plant the things you want. And there is no reason that you can't just pick a garden spot or three for some of the sun plants you want to try, preferably in close view from your chair on the porch. But you can keep the plants, and the labor and maintenance, very small.

Forget worrying about foundation plantings around the house. Concentrate on the areas that will affect your enjoyment of the property in the way *you* want to enjoy it. [What do *you* want to see when you walk out on the porch with coffee in the morning?]

And with the setting of your house in its landscape, you would do better with more irregular planting areas where they work well and for you, rather than nice, neat standard all-around-the-house-suburban foundation beds. Plant where and what you want, and you can add more irregular space to the bed, and more plants, later. Use a weed-whacker along the rest of the foundation....

Linda is correct however why not get some containers and hanging baskets, annulas will be sufficient, for the porch so when you pull in the drive the house looks inviting.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials

Thank you both for your responses. I do have a clear picture of what I like to plant, views, screening etc. However I have a problem with that I want to keep it small, but need something to frame the front of the house with. I can't figure out how to do small beds around the porch and front without it looking weird if I don't do it continously.

Can I even do it non-continous and not look weird? I can think of doing continues, but narrow and I think that would look really weird.

We do have hanging baskets and planters, just not all shown in pics as they were taken before.

Oops forgot, also can I get away with a curved bed against the garage the square area 10' x 31' between the walkway or do I have to fill in that whole area?

Lyfia,
Your question was already answered.
Read Linda's answer again.
It's your house.
Landscape it the way you want it to look, since you already know what you want.
You have nothing to loose.
COngrats on your home!
Have FUN!

butterfly4u - I guess the problem I have is I think it will look funny with just spotted beds around the porch as that is where I have some areas of wanting some screening. Porch isn't wide enough in those areas for me to use potted plants to achieve it.

Does anybody have pics of porches with chopped up plantings surrounding it? Ie where the beds are not continous?