URG! Posted wrong second pic. Hope this one has easier to read text. Sorry about that.

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Some plants what you selected work.
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Too bad you didn't get much response. Your original query was likely too concerned with details of plant selection and the presentation was so complicated that it looked like a half-hour assignment just to get up to speed. I hope you are finding your way through your questions. A local nursery might be a better resource for individual plant selection than a forum of design enthusiasts.

Karin L

Bad,there aren't any answers except me.We should not ignore any a poster.
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I gave it a look. It did seem complicated--sorry. :-)

I'd ditch the miniglobe arbs there--they grow too slowly.

>2) Landscaper suggested coral bells for miscellaneous placement. Would rather go with another perennial in addition to the astilbe and blue fescue grass suggested. Considered purple heuchera but concerned as is over used in my subdivision- may still consider this though- any other suggestions?

There are TONS of heuchera choices. Why limit yourself? Get something else if you don't want purple.

>3) Torn between Pink Diamond Hydragenea or Limelight Hydragenea. Any experiences with either?

Adore limelight.

The plan now is nicely low maintenance.

You have a big house and your current plan seems too small to carry it. The beds as they are now are too small too. Knockout roses and flower carpet roses are wonderful. Add as many as you can - low maintenence, all season colour, what more could you ask? They look great set against dark evergreens. Try yew as it's slow growing, easily kept in check, a beautiful green not prickly like other evergreens. You may also want to add a baby blue spruce which will stay small. I have a lot of limelight in the back because they work in shade and were on sale for $7 and they're great space fillers but not very showy. I think since your house is so large and neutral you should pick something like endless summer. I know a lot of people like hostas and if you do too go for it, but to me they are overused and shouldn't be planted unless you are dealing with an are where nothing else grows. As a ground cover try red nancy lamium which is easily kept in control and will bloom profusely in spring and periodically through the rest of the summer. It has lovely variegated foliage too, so it always looks good and really keeps down the weeds.

I like the contrast between Limelight Hydrangea (which gets tall) and the Knockouts. I have several Knockouts and they are great plants requiring no care plus they bloom their heads off. I'd just suggest being careful of the Limelight in front of that window. How far out from the foundation will you plant it?

Judging by the color of your car in front, your house is more grey than tan, right? So, in my opinion, you need more color contrast in the overall design. You might want to look at shrubs with different stem color or leaf color to stand out against the house. I wouldn't suggest specific plants unless I knew what kind of sun your front yard gets.

Did I read your plan correctly --- there are lilacs on each side of the front entrance? Do you know what kind they are and how tall they grow? Lilacs are wonderful but can become huge. I know there are smaller, longer blooming varieties and wonder if these are what you have.

I agree with the poster who said the beds need to be more substantial --- deeper.The peak on the left is quite tall and would be 'balanced' with larger planting bed in front of it.

FInally, please don't plant a tree where it will block the view of the front door or the windows on the left. I think the inviting front entrance and porch are two of the nicest features of your lovely home!

Molie