The walkway materials are nice.

I can't tell (or remember) how all this fits in with the house and property as a whole since we have more of the closeup view here.

I'm not sure of what look you are going for and whether you are going to keep the shrubs clipped or let them be more billowy as the grow. I like a more blended look for the end result. Also, is it in your plan to add ground cover or have large areas of mulch. Obviously you can start with shrubs and add lower items later. Since you don't need much adornment I would be going for low spreading plantings below the windows and avoid too much round blob-ish-ness. I'm not as familiar with the growth habit of the holly as I am with the nandina and roses.

A nandina I like better for such a planting is the Harbour Belle or Harbor Dwarf. Not as showy red as Firepower, but foliage is more attractive, more lacy and spreading and very nice effect just peeking over a walkway. Red berries, which Firepower does not have, though not always as many as standard nandina. Foliage can turn more the color of your brick and blends better with the Knockouts.

I'm not too fond of the round boxwood with the Sky Pencil growing up behind it, but that's just me. I would likely have gone for a larger, looser shrub at those corners.

I would want the rest of the plantings to eventually merge together and blend, so I wouldnot go for a manicured look. Also, I like a groundcover tying them all together, if possible, rather than shrubs sticking out of mulch.

The roses could be quite pretty with holly covering the low parts. At first I thought they will block the windows because they can get several feet tall, but then I see that the window starts up a way, and also it would be okay for you to see a bit of rose bloom when you look out. Are they too close to the wall? I can't tell the distances. Need 3 or 4 feet from wall. My Knockouts would clash with the scarlet of your door, but there is variation in color, so you can see what yours do and whether to re-paint to complement them.

So, I've mixed and muddled design issues, but too few of those, with plant selection. Not too much help.

We definitely plan to keep everything trimmed rather than billowy and do plan to mulch the entire area.Just trying to figure out what ground cover and perennials to add before it gets mulched. We have 3 ft for the roses to grow up to the windows and like you said wouldn't be bad if they came up past the window a little. I will recheck the depth from the wall, we may have them too close.
You are right about the Nandinas. I couldn't remember which one I wanted Firepower or Harbor Dwarf and it was the latter so will change them out. I saw them today with rose shrubs and laurels and they looked great.
I actually was interested in a loose shrub by the door behind the boxwoods but couldn't think of something that would look appropriate. Wasn't sure if the camelia could work there or a viburnum? Any suggestions?
Thanks.Glad you caught the Nandina mistake.

Your walkway is great! Could you answer a few questions regarding material and process?

1. What type of flagstone and how thick?
2. What is between the stones? Grout or stonedust?
3. Did they make the outside cuts after everything was installed?

I want this same walkway!
Very nice!

Below is a link to your thread with the "before" pictures. If nothing else this post should motivate a lot of people to take a sledgehammer to their straight and narrow builder installed front walk. Your walk is nice and in my (not really knowledgeable about hardscape) opinion the cut blue stone and brick was a perfect choice for your home.

I do not have any strong opinions on your plant selections. I am a big fan of 'Otto Luyken' laurels but Ilex crenata does not really do much for me (maybe it is because I moved into a house with 40+ of them). I would probably fill in with perennials and some annuals to add color and seasonal change.

- Brent

Here is a link that might be useful: Original Post

Nicely done, what a difference between the old and the new. Your beautiful home deserves a great entrance. I am working on changing mine and your posts have helped me narrow down my ideas.
Thanks for sharing,
Ally

I have not been here forever! Over 1 year... and someone emailed recently looking for updated photos.It is hard to believe how much things have grown!
So thought I would share them.Thank you for the nice comments on the walkway and sorry I was not on to reply to some of the questions at the time.

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This looks absolutely beautiful! ENJOY your lovely home.

The final after pictures are wonderful. Frankly, I didn't anticipate the outcome would be so beautiful. I do have one question, though. Is the left side too shady for some of the same roses you have on the right? If not, I think it would look very nice and give a better sense of balance if you had two or three of the roses there too.

Congratulations on a beautiful outcome.

Ingrid

Thank you. I was quite unsure myself but thought worst case we just move some things around. Actually the left side gets a lot of sun too despite the tall evergreen there (it is total shade to the left of the evergreen)
I would love to fill that gap with some of the roses in front of the laurels. What a great idea! Thank you!

I'm reposting these comments because they apply to me:

Posted by beantown (My Page) on Sat, Sep 29, 07 at 0:33

Your walkway is great! Could you answer a few questions regarding material and process?
1. What type of flagstone and how thick?
2. What is between the stones? Grout or stonedust?
3. Did they make the outside cuts after everything was installed?

I would add, did you lay the bluestone dry or wet? Did you install the walkway yourself? What is the cost of bluestone?

Thanks, Marc

I want this same walkway!
Very nice!

SO much better. You must be pleased and proud. Well done.