Summer sun is pretty high during the summer months. For flowering plants, you can extend the garden out into the sun zone. Maybe a backdrop of low individual boxwoods close to the porch to not form a hedge. Baby Gem.

For useful plant suggestions please tell us your location (nearest big city & state). Thanks!

Bugbane is a pollinator magnet, late summer/early fall. Tiarella and woodland phlox for spring flowers. Plant a lot of ferns. Dicentra Eximia (a type of native bleeding heart) is good, too.

Thanks for these recommendations! Yes, thinking of extending the bed to allow for more planting and more sun. We are located closest to Philadelphia, PA!

Add columbine to Sigrid's excellent list.

Would you consider a few yews or boxwood dotted along for winter color?

Sigrid - these are great ideas, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much for your tips!

Ferns are not pollinator magnets.

Cecily, I have considered something like boxwoods as a backdrop closest to the porch. I am trying to see what would be best for a cottage-look. Boxwoods look a little too manicured for my taste, so I hope to find something that adds a nice winter back drop but fits in with the aesthetic, if that makes sense. Thanks so much for the tip!

Boxwoods can look like pretty much anything you want. All you need is a little imagination.