Yes! You are correct, it is Achillea/yarrow because it does flower and come back every year. It even grows in an area that gets no water. It does tend to wander around on it's own which is how I think it got in the iris.

Your iris does look like it could use dividing but you'll want to wait a few months before doing it. Kinda a balancing act--late enough so that it's not getting blasted by super hot weather and no rain after being dug up and split and early enough so that the roots have enough time to get semi-established before really cold weather.

I've contemplated the space and while I like the idea of ornamental grass and it would look stunning I have to nix it because my gardeners are horrible about cleaning up the cut grass and it would get all over the stairway and courtyard.

I'm also giving up the idea of Iris. Although they are stunning, when I walked around the neighborhood and looked at people's Iris, I realized that area is too visible and need something foundation or ornamental. The Iris flower is stunning but the beds get a bit messy so people tend to put them at the back of the bed or in the corner of the lot or in contained raised planter boxes. I'll just have to keep my eye out for other ideas.

I like the idea of a matched pair of dwarf conifers, but placed further back from the walkway. A dwarf conifer will grow 1 - 3 inches a year, so could stay in place much longer, maybe forever if you pick the right plant. It's a shame they planted the globe spruce so close to the walkway, they are going to have to go.

What's the exposure like? Full sun part, sun? What colors and shapes appeal to you?

Barb

Barb,

I like that idea. And the conifers hopefully will not have a problem growing in the soil where the glob spruce have been dropping needles for over 20 years. We are installing a new fountain this weekend that is very tall and narrow. I will post a picture of it when it is up and get ideas for what shape would compliment it. I don't know if I should match the fountain shape with tall and lean or contrast it.

The area gets early morning sun then shade for the day and then late afternoon/evening sun in the summer. During the winter it gets full day sun. It also gets full wind exposure in the winter otherwise I was considering boxwood.

Thanks!

The new fountain is in!

The strong young men from Precision Tree Surgery are coming to extract them (and do a bunch of other stuff) next week. Lets hope the orange mango red hot pokers can live in the same soil the evergreen has been dropping needles on for so long. The bind weed don't seem to mind it.

Looks great! And the sound of water is just so calming, isn't it?

Thanks! Although it is hard to know the sound of each fountain until you hear it, I am very happy with the sound this one makes. It is louder and carries into the house better than the one I we had before.