Combination 2:
Cyclamen
Allium caeruleum
Fern
Ligularia stenocephala 'The Rocket'
periwinkle

Haven't planted or bought a majority of the plants but some are in postage, but I'm second guessing myself. I basically just took things off my must have list and tried to combine plants that tolerate shade. I will try and provide an image. Give me your honest & critical opinion.

Other than that, those looks like some nice color combinations, especially the black mondo with the Hakone grass.

I might also consider adding something with a bit of a more year round presence so the bed isn't quite so empty for much of the year - i.e. an evergreen. But I guess in WI you get enough snow that you don't actually SEE the bed for a good part of the winter anyway so maybe not so important afterall :-)

FWIW, the allium would do best in full sun as well. And careful what you combine the cyclamen with - these like a dry dormant period in summer, so maybe not the happiest in a location that gets regular irrigation, such as most ferns and the ligularia require.

I like the way everything looks in that PS picture. Does the area get any direct light?

I have an area that gets absolutely no direct sunlight due to a tall northeast facing townhouse. So far, what has worked for me there: Toad Lily, Astilbe X arendsii, Pulmonaria, Chrysogonum virginianum, Helleborus X ballardiae (hybrid of niger and lividus). I try to keep bloom times staggered so there is always something going on.

==>>> you really want it.. lol ...

you sound like a newbie'ish gardener.. who thinks that design is a science.. rather than an art ... [do you have engineering genes???] ...

i like where you have gone this far ... BUT ... at this point..JUST DO IT ...

gardening is like war.. the plan fails.. the moment you meet the enemy ... and the enemy.. in your case..is mother nature ...

plant for color.. height.. groups.. etc .. and by next august.. you move what failed to make you happy .. that is how a gardener does it ... its the joy of the unknown.. the challenge to do it right.. but in all reality ... no ones plan ever works out ...

and we simply walk out there.. and move things around ...

but we dont really fixate or worry about it ... its the exercise.. the diversion from reality .. and the simple joy of playing in the soil ... after which you are covered in dirt ...

i say your plan is fine.. GO FOR IT .. and pshaw on worrying about it ...

ken

Perennial gardens can be planned, but it is extremely difficult to plan for where the garden will be several years down the road. There also doesn't seem to be a lot of discussion of the matter among gardeners, besides dealing with individual plants.

Of course, this all depends on the particular flowerbeds involved, their size, perennial diversity, location with respect to walls, trees etc, etc..

For me, the initial choice of plants is a key consideration; notably the avoidance of invasive (runners and seeders).

For my purposes, the running periwinkle is not worth the bother for the show it gives. That doesn't mean that it isn't a useful ground cover when it's around few other perennials or by itself.

I would also avoid those perennial geraniums that move (seed) around.

Mother Nature. Enemy? Maybe. If Mother Nature exists, she certainly has no interest in gardeners. As they said, "Gardens die with their gardener". It would be Mother Nature who makes sure of that.

I think there is a certain amount of planning you should do to avoid wasting money (space, soil type, exposure requirements, moisture, etc.) and labor (on containing aggressive species, constantly pruning, etc.). I also think site preparation is often overlooked but very important. But yes, as Ken says, there is always going to be some trial and error and that is indeed one of the joys of doing this stuff.

Planning is just as fun as the planting with the added benefits you get to be freely creative without breaking the bank or your back.

For a couple hours after sunrise it sees direct light and as the shadow of the house moves to the left the right corner might see a little depending on the time of summer. Thanks for mentioning toad lily got a small little thing from someone didn't know what it was. For this bed winter interest really isn't important.

What are some plants that will make Ligularia stand out? Several of you mentioned astilbe where would it go/to replace what and what color.

==>>> oh absoluely..

just as long as you DONT WORRY ABOUT IT ...

too many peeps who visit.. seriously.. either worry.. or write like its all something to worry about ...

good luck

ken, who never made a plan in 30 years.. and is happy if they live.. and will worry later about moving the problem children around.. but prefers the riotous cottage garden look as compare to symmetry ... [or else adopted that 'look' because he is to lazy to move them later.. lol]

Mock ups are hard to do but I think you may have found a Pelargonium, rather than a Geranium, if that is the large pinkish red flowered plant. And the Vinca is not going to be as floriferous are as large-flowered as your picture shows.

The scale is much better than many mock ups we see but the fern is little small and the Cyclamen flowers a little large.

You managed to include some of my personal favorites as well like Brunnera 'Jack frost,' Polygonatum, clematis and Trillium.

SunnyBorders, your bed looks great I think I'm going to have to get a Iris pallida 'Aureo'

the pinkish red flower is the yarrrow the geranium is directly under the hosta. sorry for the low resolution image and I agree the Cyclamen intaminatum are too way large.

better image

I'm also wondering about your vertical planter. One side will face NE and the other NW. Does that affect your thinking? And won't it shade the bed am and pm?