These are divisions from hostas that have performed well for me. First, Sea Monster:

Three Gold Standards:

Lemon Lime by the fire pit:

I had so much Lemon Lime I threw the leftovers into a pot.

These are divisions from a vigorous volunteer seedling:

These are hostas I've had for years that have not been doing well in their original site. This one is a NOID:

I moved my under-performing June into a pot a couple years ago; hoping it likes this new spot.

Blue Angel:

Frances Williams -- this is the third spot I've tried for this one. I had completely given up on it, and was surprised to see it poking out of the vinca not long ago.

This is another NOID; I'm thinking it might well be the same as the first one in this post, although I think it was growing in a different spot in the yard. I've had it in a pot for the past few years, and got three divisions from it.

Then there's this problematic Sum and Substance that I wrote about in another post. This one is only a few years old, and the consensus here is it was planted too deep.

These were ordered from Plant Delights Nursery and planted in early April.

Age of Gold:

Liberty:

Earth Angel:

Empress Wu:

Brother Stefan:

These were ordered from Hornbaker Gardens and planted in early May.

Blue Ivory:

Waterslide:

Fire and Ice (I topped off the potting soil right after taking this photo):

White Bikini:

These are recent local purchases.

Lakeside Paisley Print:

Mini Skirt:

Then there's the Fire Island I purchased last year and kept in a pot until now. I got too aggressive with my divisions and ended up with just one good-looking clump and a couple of clunkers:

There's another eye from this plant, but with no roots. I've placed it in a glass of water; if it roots I might try to join it back to one of these clumps.

KW, I'm not too concerned about the Lemon Limes being too close to the fire pit. I don't expect our fires to be intense, and even if the LL don't survive, I've got plenty more of that particular variety. But it's a good thought; I wouldn't want to put a valuable plant that close.

Thanks for the Heuchera suggestion!

Very nice Ben! They should be happy in their new area without competition. You have been having fun! Hope you get to sit, relax and enjoy the growth.

I forgot to mention my Halcyons. I planted some divisions about 30 years ago, and like others they’ve been struggling in the vinca and ivy. I potted one up a couple of years ago, and was able to get 5 small divisions from it for this new area. I moved a Japanese Painted Fern to accompany this grouping:

This going to shape up very nicely as your current hostas settle in. I love having a fragrant plant near sitting areas, so maybe an Osmanthus sweet olive? Carex could be good there. Here is Evergold

i would put Frances Williams in a shady spot, it burns so easily. Mine is under the branches of a star magnolia and there is lots of shade from the pin oaks above it. The edges of the leaves will definitely burn and brown out if you leave it in the sun. I have to move my Fire Island to a pot since it has been declining drastically under a taxus. You have a good looking clump. Nice looking carex.

Wow Ben, you really have been working on your project! I love what you have done so far! I like the idea of adding Heuchera and perhaps some decorative grasses. I have Japanese Forest Grass. The yellow would pop with your blues. I am amazed that your NOIDs are so nice. Mine are mediocre. As far as in front of the fire area, you could just put a nice pair of Adirondack chairs or whatever you are thinking about and not worry about planting anything else.

debra

I had not noticed that you are also in 7 b. Autumn ferns from Lowes or fancy nurseries grow very well. Mine quadrupled in size in 1 year. They are beautiful year round. In early spring when the dark red fiddleheads start to appear, I cut off the old foliage to allow the plant to focus energy on the new growth and to allow me to see the spring unfurl. The ferns sway in the breeze and add to a gentle wave-like sound. These cost me about $20 for all 3, and that was because I bought one at a fancy place.

Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions.

Of Heuchera, Japanese Forest Grass, Carex, ferns, sedum -- which would tolerate occasional foot traffic, or maybe even a chair leg pressing against it?

I have some lily of the valley that is slowly being choked out by the vinca. Would I regret moving some to this new area? (That is, would it be too aggressive and hard to control?) Can it tolerate traffic?

I have some hardy cyclamen that has naturalized into the lawn. I might try transplanting some of that too.

Some sedum can definitely take walking on, depends on the type. I have this common sedum, don’t know the name, but it takes walking on. If it overgrown its spot, just pull it out. It can easily be relocated by placing it in an area of loose ground. It will root itself. My community cats love to lay on it because it’s soft and cool to them.

debra

Wow Ben Lily of the Valley being taken over by Vinca. Here at least L of the V would win and then take over the next area and then the next......I would not move it. It is a wicked thug.

Debra yours looks like Sedum sarmentosum. Sedum acre is another you can walk on, the only trouble is any piece that sticks to your shoe will start where it drops off. Not one of your options but my favorite walkable is Woolly thyme - Thymus pseudolanuginosus.

Love wooly thyme too! Do you know about “brass buttons”? leptinella / Platts Black It comes in 3” which I have or miniature & plain green or platts black has a dark center color. I’ve read it can be invasive in some climates but it isn’t for me her in pacific NW zone 8 & is easily controlled. Grows by surface runners. I have it in both sun & shade & does well in sun when we’ll watered. Is evergreen but thins out in winter. It can take foot traffic - not heavy kids playing traffic but definitely walkable. Everyone, & I mean everyone who visits my yard asks what this is! so soft too. I took a close up & long shot but the long shot seems to not be loading....

B

Here’s another long shot of brass buttons

I've been eyeing that Brass Buttons at the local nursery. It looks like a great ground cover. I wonder how it will compete with the maple roots.

I've had an August Fern for a few years and always liked it. It even stays evergreen here. I'm looking to plant some more this year. This may be the first year I've completely whacked it back in the spring and I'm loving the effect of the new growth.

I would think the Carex would handle some abuse. The ferns would be OK once established, but show signs of damage. Depending on how frequent you could just cut off the damaged leaf and they will grow more. But they would need some time to recover and look good. Heuchera would not be happy there. Liriope takes all the abuse you can throw at it and just keeps smiling. Its our dog bed under the lilac in the front, but I've removed it everywhere else (I'm not fond of it) and planted it on our steep slope to help retain the soil. It even laughs at maple tree roots.

Creeping Jenny is tread-friendly. Thyme always dies of fungus in my yard, usually 2-3 weeks after planting.

@steve duggins(Z6a) - Central Ohio about Brass Buttons & Maple Roots - without knowing if you mean Japanese maples or huge maples, my bet is neither type would have any problems. I have shrubs, arborvitae & weeping Alaskan cedars around edge of where my brass buttons are. The shade of the larger trees does shade it out a bit which is fine but I do pull the runners away from base of smaller shrubs & plants to keep it from growing up the plant. Since it’s such a surface rooter it comes out easily. . I’d think @Ben D (zone 7b) would have no trouble pulling away from hostas as the pips come up each year. It might wander through the liriope grass at edges. Your pretty doggie would definitely like laying in Brass Buttons too!

Area looks great. I would avoid Lily of the Valley at all costs. It spreads rapidly and is a pain to dig out. Steve's dog gives 4 paws up for Liriope--that's a super endorsement from our canine friend! I've seen Liriope down in South Carolina, it takes the heat, sun and foot traffic.

Why I love autumn ferns in zone 7b. TGIF.

Thanks utog. I have a couple near my shed. They are well established but each appears to have a single crown. Should I risk dividing them or just buy more?

I bought 3 about 8 years ago. They grew well. They’re cheap. They do like water.

Here's the latest on the firepit area. I picked up more flagstones this morning; I think I need a few more still.

The idea is to have an area to place extra chairs when we have visitors. I plan on keeping some pots at the end of the bench otherwise. I think I'd still like to have the stones extend a little further up.

Excellent! So, when you’re done with this project, do we all get to come over? Just kidding! It is coming together really well.

@Ben D (zone 7b) Your firepit area project is coming together nicely! I’m seeing your vision & it’s looking very inviting!

Looks great! Sorry if I missed it but what is the plant in the foreground surrounding the firepit area?

Thanks Barbara! That's liriope bordering the bed, seen at the bottom of the photo. Immediately in front of the fire pit itself are some Lemon Lime hostas.

We have quite a bit of liriope that's been mashed up against a fence for decades. Might be time to liberate some of it. Thanks for sharing!

Finished setting the flagstones…

Have you used the fire pit?

maackia, no, it's been too warm here. We're looking forward to trying it out this fall.

Like your design. I love hostas but you might want to move them away from fire pit even though it has a nice look. Have you considered having a low growing ground cover instead? For example, Burgundy Glow Ajuga, it has beautiful green and burgundy leaves and in the Spring lovely blue flowers (zones 3-9) or Bugleweed which is also a low growing mat with a flower in the Spring, zones 4-10. With a ground cover you still get the color and beauty. I have planted them at the end of my driveway, also around trees. I’m just beginning my planting and learning as I go. The red flowers are Impatients and the Ajuga is planted behind it. Both are low growing. I have a question what sort of stone did you use for your pathway? I would like to get that for my path near the hosta. You said flagstone is it a particular type? We have had several weeks of rain and humidity so I haven’t been apple to clean up some of the weeds and grass poppying up.

Everything is looking good. I like the stone pathway--i'd like to do the same but the area that I would put them in still needs weeding so I better work on that! Understand not using the firepit since it's been in the 90's here too, much too hot to use them. Your sitting area looks so inviting. Guests might not want to leave!

davpaulet, the flagstones are natural Alabama rocks from a local hardscape supplier.

I'm not too worried about the Lemon Lime hostas near the firepit. Those are divisions from several large clumps, so they are easily replaced -- although I'm hoping the rocks will shield them from the heat somewhat.

Ben, I love what you have done in the area! As miles said, everything looks soooooo inviting!

Regarding ajuga, I had beautiful black scallop ajuga I planted in my front, side and back yards. After three years it was so invasive, it was choking out my hostas and other plants. It took the better part of the summer to dig it all out which is difficult because it spreads under ground. I am still finding pieces of it here and there. If fact I believe I injured my shoulder doing it. The root slayer helped, but then you must make sure you aren’t digging up your hostas as well. Just a thought.

debra