haha my wife said the same thing the other day.. " just leave it alone and go mow the grass "

Ken makes a good point! You may find that you can overwhelm you self with "watering duties" if you plant too many projects at the same time.

One question: what type of trees are those two main hardwoods?

My thoughts: you need to layer for winter more than summer since the hostas will also be dormant by then. This is where I would go back to my earlier suggestion on lenten roses (hellebores) and not use them on your back fence project, but instead up front. That way both you and walkers can enjoy the two months of blooms in January and February (sometimes they last into April.)

I would layer in some daffodils among the hostas. Their wilting foliage in summer will eventually get covered by hosta. Maybe think ferns, too, there's so many varieties and they would do well under those trees.

You may want to think about enlargening that triangular bed area a little into a larger shape with more sweeping, gradual curves. Then moving your hydrangea out a little and maybe have one focal shrub in the center that blooms at a different time than hosta. Like...actually the Edgeworthia would look awesome there. Would make your yard talk of the town in winter.

This is a blend of what I have been doing in an area of my front yard that seems to get similar lighting as your area. When I got to winter, I realized most things died out. So I added lenten roses to start so there was at least something for winter. The may apples are a lot of fun and they colonize and die back by about now, so they might be something you may want to try too.

I don't know why but I am not a fern lover. I will be adding daffodil like you said and if I can find a good hellebores dealer online I would love to pick some up too.. any suggestions? And how many would you say I should do to look nice? I've never thought of changing the shape, but I see what you mean. I can't remember what the trees are but I'll check tomorrow. I don't think those are pine

I can't find the thread but haven't we discussed this bed before? I thought that changing the serried rows, altering the shape of the bed and not over filling it, bearing in mind the eventual size of the Hydrangeas, were all suggested.

Yes, what floral said.

"i was thinking it may be nice to add some evergreen shrub on the outside
border mainly for winter interest when hydrangeas turn to sticks!"

I can never remember where you are- could you please add that to your user name? Because I wonder if you have deer in your area- hydrangeas outside my fenced areas would last about ten minutes here.

My opinion is that the front of the home needs year long interest no matter how you do it. I have very few plants in the front of my home that disappear in the winter. I use broadleaved evergreens like boxwood, and conifers to keep my beds full. The only things that disappear are the "facer" plants that provide color.

If it was me I'd spend the time between now and fall researching my plants, and then I'd add them this fall.

Whatever you do or decide to plant, you want to de-emphasize that rectilinear planting format. So no row of liriope marching along the edges!! Instead, try more natural groupings of similar plants........think clusters or drifts.

Unless you are putting in a formal hedge, you always want to avoid lining up plants in a row. It looks completely artificial and unnatural and far more suited to a very formal garden than what I see in the photos.

You need evergreens there in my opinion. I think I gave suggestions in another thread.

You also need a groundcover to help define the shape gardengal suggests. The area looks spotty now.

Here is the original post on the same bed:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/4721379/mini-shrub-ideas