That spot has a lot of potential! I agree with removing all of the grass. I'd probably pack it in with repeated plantings of 3 or 4 different types of plants that would thrive best in the conditions.

Nancy, I am not good at visualizing where to put things. I just plant, and if I don't like where something is, I move it. I wish I could help you, but I enjoyed looking at your pics. I want to see more when you get it planted.

Sue

I can't recommend plants for your zone, but you've got a perfect place for a beautiful, relaxing garden spot. Hope you'll keep us updated on your new garden.

Perhaps a trellis behind your flagstone against the wall...and/or a wall fountain?

Cameron

Your sketches are great! I'm not sure of the exposure from the photos: looks like that area might be along a main entrance to your home.

I envy your tidy stockpile of dry and cut-to-length for this winter, but looks like you plan to find someplace else for it in the coming years. A skim coat of stucco on the cinderblock to match the siding would be an easy way to minimize the horizontal line under the windows. Easy DIY.

Cameron's idea of a trellis sounds good. A 4b until recently, I think Clematis might do well.

Have you considered consolidating the flagstone patio into one seating area, using some ~ 3-4 foot tall plants close to the path to screen it off as a 'secret' room?

Add winter interest from shrubs with berries or grasses with persisting seeds? Attract some birds?

It might help to look at a straight-on picture of the front of the house, so that you have balance on both sides.

Nell

Ooohh, I like the idea of a wall fountain. Drat, left one at the old house. I'll add front on pics later today. I took a couple, but can't find my cord to upload to the computer. My office is in a state of renovation, as I am varnishing my desk, and getting a new tile floor down.

Nancy.

Nell, here is the front-on view. I do plan to add a some sitting area to the left, to the back....
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This may give you more of an idea of scale. I'd put the Blue Angel hosta along the path beside the garage. I should be able to divide it to 3 plants. I'd put the brunnera(should divide to 2 plants) in front, then fill in with flag paths. I have volunteers from the cerise phlox in the bed around the birch, which I put there somewhere.... The white on the grass out front is the beginning on the lasagne bed for the perrenial/shrub border...

Really need your feedback!!!

Nancy.

Just a thought. That garden spot is located beneath a blue spruce which tends to suck the water away from your plants. Whatever plant you choose, it must be good for dry conditions and periodically you will need to add a fresh bag of compost to renew the soil. Because of the semi arid conditions there, I wouldn't recommend using clematis (unless planted far from the tree).

By the way, you have the potential to create something artsy with your stockpile. You can stock it in a nice curvy pattern, great for hiding anything you wish to keep out of view. A low fenceline is created.