Not your mom's foundation plants, but I like this mix of textures, seasonal interest, and several distinct shades of green. Even without flowers, this holds my interest. There's an oak leaf hydrangea upper left, gorgeous in bloom or any other time of the year, with an autumn fern peaking out from behind, a dwarf false cypress evergreen adding a note of chartreuse, the large yellow flowers of the Sunburst St. John's Wort, in front of the Cherry Bomb Holly which will be offering up red berries in fall/winter, and sedum and ajuga forming the carpet underneath. Photo by Laura Wright

A series of steps and walls help create an easily traversed and enjoyed garden. The blocky sandstone was used to create durable, attractive and sturdy retaining walls for the steps to pass through. Tennessee Crab orchard flagstone was used for the walkway and thick slabs were used to create the steps. Plantings above the walls feature Green Beauty Boxwood and Sunny Boulevard Hypericum.

Golden Rule™ flower up close
This is an example of a traditional full sun landscaping in Chicago.

Oakleaf Hydrangea in full bloom overlooking Hypericum 'Hidcote' putting forth its beautiful red berries. Susan Irving - Designer
Photo of a huge traditional partial sun backyard formal garden in New York for summer.