Besides color, are you trying to accomplish anything else with the bed? Do you want it to screen your neighbor's view of your patio, or your view of the neighbor? Do you want shrubs, perennials, or both? What's the soil like? Drainage?

A picture of the area might help, too.

Hello saypoint!

I am open to any ideas. The more I look at this area, the harder it is more me to envision what do because it is so long!

I would like a mix of both annuals and perennials. A mix of both would be good because I would like to be able to change some of the plants out if I get tired of them.

As you will see in the pic, the backdrop is my neighbor's house, so I would like something tall in the back (ornamental grass or something of that nature) to have a better backdrop. I am not big on shrubs, but for variety and texture (and space!!) sake, I may need to have some.

Drainage is great, soil is somewhat acidic here but I have mixed in some soil starter to help break up the lovely southern clay most of us have.

Thanks again for your interest...please let me know if you have any additional questions.

{{gwi:32617}}

Your picture is too small to see. If you're looking to make a flower garden out of this space, you're really better off asking on the annuals forum and perennials forum, or your regional forum. The Landscape Design forum is more about planning and designing spaces than about choosing individual flowering plants.

As I see it, your most limiting factor will be the narrow (4 foot) width of the space, which is pretty small for most shrubs and grasses. You might consider forming a green background with a trellised vine or espaliered tree--of course you'll have to verify with the neighbor and city regulations etc. whether it is OK to do this. Then you could use sculpture or plant a variety of slim, columnar plants and creeping perennials in front.

My amateur .02

sammie-

That is what I was thinking. A friend suggested trellises (painted terra cotta color so it will blend in with the wall) along the back and grow jasmine. That would help "cut" the brick wall.

I like your idea of the slim, columnar plants. Perhaps a few on each side to balance, then in between - have the "creepers". I have several potted plants I would like to incorporate in, I think that would help to take up space as well.

Thanks for the suggestions!