I'd plant daylilies there of course! LOL Open ground, open ground! But if you want low maintenance, how about a couple of miniature butterfly bushes surrounded by bulb things that would bloom in Spring?

Debra

Like Debra, I first thought of daylilies!!! I am totally no good in landscaping as that is always my first thought!!! Do you have any pretty ornamental trees planted yet that bloom in the spring?

I am on board with Kate and Debra. about daylilies. I don't know if gardenias grow in Virginia, but it they do, That would be nice in center with whatever you might like around it.

kay

Thank you for the suggestions. i'll check out the gardenias. Do not know much about them. The butterfly bush might work too.. We had 4 trees planted by a local company. So far the flowering Kwanza Cherry in the back and magnolia down on the other front side have survived. My first thought too was daylilies but I need some spring color so have been thinking of bulbs and when they die back, the daylilies and other perennials would be coming up. I do have 2 redbud seedlings growing in pots which I had planned to put in the back Waiting for fall to transplant.

I'll need another load of topsoil for sure.

Next year, the back gardens will start and I've got to find a way to keep the deer away.

Julia

I had a spot much like that one after a tree died. I used it for as many different types of plants as possible. Spring bulbs, Varigated Iris (the sun coming through the leaves in spring is beautiful, sedum as a ground cover, and also the bulb Lycoris Radiata for early fall. In the center I put a statue of St. Francis.

Here's the first picture with the Iris Pallida just having been divided:

This is a later fall picture when the sedum turns color after a cold night and the new foliage of the Lycoris springs up to add greenery over the winter months:

There's usually something blooming there except during the depths of summer (when I don't want to do any maintenance at all). As it is, all I do is deadhead the bulbs after they have passed and keep the Bermuda out of the ground cover. The basic idea is a largish focal point in the center, with whatever you choose surrounding it. You will have lots of fun with whatever you do I'm sure, but it is a good chance for you to incorporate all sorts of bulbs for spring/fall display....................Maryl

Thanks Maryl. A statue is something I had not thought to do. I did watch that video you suggested by the gardener Linda Vater. I liked her "less is more" and try to keep that in mind when doing a new bed.

Julia

Julia - Gardenias won't survive winters in your zone. They don't here in 7A.

Maryl - I love your St. Francis garden. What kind of sedum is that?

Debra

Thanks Debra for the heads up on Gardenias.

I think the sedum may be sedum spurium Fuldaglut. A ground cover type of sedum. I planted sedum Autumn Joy here but it is not the ground cover type. It has already grown quite well and looks like it will flower eaarlier than I expect.

Julia

The Sedum is Sedum Kamtschaticum, also known as the orange sedum for the fall color. It's very resilient and takes our clay soil and full sun in stride............Here's a link to a well known vendor that carries it....................Maryl

Sedum Kamtschaticum

Thanks Maryl for the name.

My husband and I looked at fountains and large pots to place in center. As always, we never agree. LOL. All of the fountains/birdbaths were electric so I was checking to see if I can convert to solar. I did that with one birdbath I had in NY. On my list today is to check whether I packed that solar panel. None of the garden centers around here had statues so we may have to venture a bit further.

Julia