Where is the front door? Picture, please?

Hi Judy,

Thanks for replying. I'm attaching two additional pictures. One photo shows the back door, which is the one you enter from the breezeway that's near the driveway. The other photo shows the front door, which isn't really used since you need to walk all the way around the house to get to it. I'm planning on putting mulch in the area where the Japanese maple tree is. Thanks again!

What zone are you in? What state, area?

Hi,

I'm in Connecticut, zone 6B.

Thanks!

Thank you for taking the time to do that! That looks very nice! It's funny--the entire other side of my house has a bluestone patio! :-)

I would plant a few evergreen small shrubs (boxwood and yews) as an anchor near the foundation. Make sure you allow enough room for the plant to grow naturally. I would not plant these in front of the windows on the lower level. Keep that space open for low growing plants and perennials.

Monrovia has solid and helpful information on boxwood. See: https://www.monrovia.com/boxwood/ In fact, their website is an great source of information for any plant you might be interested in. Over the years I have had many plants from them.

Aside from a few small evergreen and deciduous shrubs, plant a few perennials and workout a plan that goes from low to high (foreground, middle ground, and back ground) front to back. Buy in odd numbers (1, 3 and 5) for interest and continuity.

Other anchor bushes can be one or two hydrangeas - like this. There are many cultivars, look for compact ones.

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If you have a sunny area near the driveway a bed of perennials like these (Sedum - Autumn Joy, Blackeye Susans, Daylilies - Stella D'oro) would be pretty.

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This is a picture of a lot of plants that should do well in your area, although this garden is in Seattle.

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According to the designer, the front section has Autumn Joy Sedum, Blue Forest juniper, Firefly heather, assorted lewisia and sedums, Quick Silver Hebe and a couple of little cushion cryptomeria. In the adjacent bed, there is aspirea (Magic Carpet) and the blue is actually a catmint although there is also a Russian Sage in that bed.

I planted (north NJ) Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald Gaiety’ when I moved in years ago in the front of my foundation planting. It is a variegated, low growing evergreen, which does quite well.

Tall shrub on the corner of the house and the larger wall near the door. Lower shrubs everywhere else so they will stay under the windows. Plant for a variety of color at different times of the year with a few evergreens mixed in.

You need a climber…either where the welcome sign is or on the posts. I am going to suggest hydrangea. because it has white lacecap flowers and you can let it climb, and climb. It is noninvasive/self-clinging.