Some of my favorite natives for full sun--Panicums 'Red Sunset' and 'Heavy Metal', Andropogon 'Blackhawks', Rudbeckia maxima, Liatris spicata, Baptisia (they're all lovely but I especially love 'Purple Smoke', in part for the beautiful domed shape), Vernonia 'Iron Butterfly' (another lovely dome), Monarda 'Claire Grace', Heliopsis 'Bleeding Hearts' (cultivar of a native). If Silene Regia will grow for you, it's magnificent.

I'm not sure what you mean by wanting to "bring the bed on the left around the redbud" but the trees could be part of an island bed. That would eliminate some of the lawn. Google "island garden bed" and you'll see a lot of examples. You wouldn't want a rigid shape like round or square.

You need to plant around the front foundation too

Is this what you mean by bringing the bed on the left around the redbud? I think it’s a beautiful way to expand your garden. I have no knowledge of zone 7a, so this rough mock-up is just a suggestion for a bed shape, not the plantings.

Will the budget run to mountain laurel?

Start by putting the front yard on graph paper to scale. I don't have a good feel for how far the redbud is from the porch, but I have a feeling that once you start planning for shrubs, the area is going to fill up fast.

That's what I thought he meant but the redbud looked too far away to me to connect it to a foundation bed. Then there's the other side of the house. He'd have to do the same there and that's a lot of garden for the size of the house.

Why are the redbuds planted together?

It's one redbud and one stake. The beds do not necessarily need to be duplicated on the other side. A large bed on the left, incorporating the tree, would also block the view of the neighbouring houses and fences and give a sense of intimacy to the front garden.

I know they don't need to be exactly duplicated but it'd need to be something more than shrubs along the foundation. Intimacy can also be accomplished by making the redbud part of a large island bed. But if I were to extend the foundation plants to the redbud, I'd add balance to the other side by laying a flagstone path to the driveway and plant on both sides of the path.

This is a Houzz photo but I can't find it on Houzz to show it larger.

I think the current front walkway beds could be improved too. They don't have enough plants in them and they could be made about 2" wider while still keeping that shape.

Ah, I totally understand your enthusiasm for landscaping! I'd be delighted to share my front yard design with you for inspiration.

As you can see from the photo I've shared, my front garden features a mix of native plants and cultivars, carefully selected for seasonal interest and color. The redbud is a beautiful focal point, and wrapping the bed around it will create a stunning visual effect.

For native plant suggestions, I highly recommend considering the following:

- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) for bright summer blooms

- Bee Balm (Monarda didyma) for red, pink, or purple flowers that attract pollinators

- Blueberry Bush (Vaccinium corymbosum) for gorgeous fall color and edible berries

- Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) for silvery foliage and small blue blooms

When designing your bed, remember to consider layers, texture, and bloom times to ensure year-round interest. I'm excited to see your design take shape! Feel free to share your progress, and I'll be happy to offer more suggestions and encouragement along the way!

Hey everyone sorry I never got back to this post. Long winter here in PA and I am eagerly thinking about this garden bed again. FFpalms your spot on. That’s how I’d like to tie it together. The redbud is a decent distance. Far enough where it won’t be an issue in the future. I actually do plan on doing a stone walkway from the driveway to concrete walkway because 1 we walk there and 2 it will add a nice touch to the smaller bed. Annie Tiffany I am not seeing your picture? I would love to see your front yard.

Show me your front yards ! Need motivation. Spring is near here in Philadelphia