1. Get either 3 or 5 very large boulders and place them in interesting positions (be creative.)
2. Add a bench - either stone or concrete.
3. Fill the rest of the area with three different sizes of river rock - small, medium, and very large.
4. Add several clusters of Bromeliads.

Oh, Ricky, what a wonderful and creative idea! I never would've thought of that. Easy, interesting, pretty care-free, brings seating. Perfect. I can picture some very interesting bromeliads as a focal point too. Nice. I was going to mention a couple of ground covers, but now they don't seem right!

Anna

Hmmmm, I like that idea! I have some gravel beds in front of the house so this one would fit right in. Also, the pool overflow pipe empties there, so I wouldn't have to worry about the plants being killed by chlorine. Lastly, the dog races circles around the house, and I don't know how ferns would have held up. I think I'm getting me some gravel!

Add a fire pit to that while you're at it!

I have the same problem on the east side of my house, which is in shade most of the day from the house and a huge oak tree.

Let me tell you what NOT to plant: wedelia. I planted it a few years ago as a fast growing cover with nice green foliage and occasional yellow flowers. Boy, do I regret it. You can't kill it, stop it, even slow it down. I think that wedelia, in a one-on-one with kudzu, would strangle kudzu to death.

So I put in philodendron and elephant ears. They grow without much need for any care and, when it freezes, come right back thriving. I have a hammock planned for the spring and summer where I will hide out from the rest of the world. I will be in one these, come about March, surrounded by elephant ears, drinking A&W cream soda and reading whatever new Stephen King book is out.