What about some hydrangeas? They have nice leaves after the flowers are gone and now there are several everblooming types. Another great shrub,although it gets pretty tall,is ninebark diablo. You can easily pick them up in garden centers and they are totally trouble free and have gorgeous red leaves. I have two of them,both in perennial borders.

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea Quercifolia) would be a good shrub with 4-season interest. Big oak-shaped leaves turn burgundy in the fall. White cone-shaped flowers in summer. Peeling bark shows in winter. 'Snow Queen' is 6' x 5'. (I have one that I need to move/give away because I planted to close to where I put a walkway that goes through my front landscape to the backyard. Another very nice plant is 'Little Henry' (smaller) or 'Henry's Garnet' (larger) Virginia Sweetspire (Itea Virginica). Of course, most Rhododenrons will do well in shade on the north side of the house. There are some nice flowering perennials such as Liriope (in various forms) that could be used under the shrubs as a ground cover of sorts. Other suggestions for shrubs are Dwarf Summersweet 'Hummingbird' or 'Ruby Spice' (Clethra Alnifolia) and Fothergilla 'Mount Airy'.

Hey John! So what can we give you since you have so much to share!! We are planning our spring trip to Greenwood and would be happy to deliver something. Do you have a wishlist?

Debbie