Hi, welcome to the Garden Party and congratulations on your new house.
I live in CA and have somewhat figured out how to grow some of the plants you mentioned, but the climate in CA and VA are totally different. (I used to live in VA).
You may want to check out the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Virginia Gardening

Welcome Mike- good for you for taking control:-). Here are a few things to look into-

1. You didn't mention if the shrubs/plants are in shade or not, but it seems like this is the case. All of these plants require sunlight to grow and bloom consistently.
2. Please ask her if the soil was amended before she planted the shrubs- i.e.: peat moss mixed in with dehydrated cow manure or anything else that you may like.
3. Newly planted shrubs/plants/annuals require lots of water to get them going for the first few weeks until they put out deep roots.
4. Keep in mind, the gardenias/portulacas are annuals and may need to go indoors if you want to have them again next year. (Don't know the zone for VB). Goodluck with everything.

Nerry

Hi Mike,
Welcome to the Party! We provide virtual pillows for headaches gotten when bang-head-on-wall takes place.

I'd guess that your wife doesn't garden either... so it's going to be up to you :) VB is officially plant zone 7B, but you'll have better luck buying plants that are happy in zone 8. Azaleas require some shade, the farther south you are, the more shade.. I'm zone 6B and put them in areas that are shady at least 1/2 the day. Established azaleas can do well even with little water, but do give them at least 5 gallons per inch-thickness at the plant's base if your area doesn't get an inch of rain for a month (yes, include 'winter'). Do keep their root area well-mulched with non-treated shredded leaves, wood chips, or bark. Portulacas demand full sun, all day. They do best in sandy well-drained soil, and water deeply once a week if it doesn't rain (deeply means you get a wet finger if you stick it in soil up to the knuckle). You and I are far enough south that most gardenias are considered perennial. Gardenias are noted for being persnickety: if the plant likes you it will do fine in sun to light shade, lightly mulched, and watered when the soil is dry. If the gardenia doesn't like you, buy a spirea which will bloom freely although scentless because spireas like anybody who will water them in drought, while nobody can convince a gardenia to bloom if it doesn't feel like it. If you bought the gardenia at a nursery, do get a replacement just in case the next gardenia likes you better.

Notice that either your azaleas or the portulaca will be unhappy with the amount of sun available.

meldy, very well said.