I put lamium around mine. It's a groundcover all over my property now. Spreads nicely and beautiful pastel colors...pretty much from May to Nov. Seems to manage sun, too. I do a deadhead around now, and it just keeps on blooming.

Only a few varieties of hosta like a lotta sun. I've got one called Aphrodite that has a heavenly aroma in Aug./Sept. And it is kinda large so not a good choice for a forefront planting. Mine has its own bed. My garden guy will be dividing it next spring and planting it at his house because he passes it with the mower...and she puts her spell on him.

Lamium is my final answer. It will fill in just about any width you've got in front. It's a delight. And you can get plugs from mail-order nurseries cheaply. They're so hardy, plugs are all you need. You should see excellent spread the same season. You can get it at any big nursery. I've got just about every color and variegation out there.

I should've put a pic up there for ya.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lamium purple Dragon

I would suggest Jack Frost Brunnera (lovely sprays of blue flowers before the Hydrangea are doing anything interesting and very cool foliage the rest of the season) and Rozanne geranium, which flowers with abandon all season and will look great regardless of what colour your ES flowers in...

Thanks for all your suggestions. I will look into it.