It’s not always about flowers ....

Me too Dawn love grasses, shrubs, contrasting leaves, yours look fantastic :-))

Dawn that's stupendous. You can come and reorganise my borders any day...

Grasses Daylily, that's what I need to add here and there, thanks.
Haha Stera, these big leaves plants suppress the weeds
a treat.

this is a lovely blog, thank you for sharing. :o)

Thanks Seaburn, I must take a photo of the Symphytum, it's grown so well :-)

Yes meadow, I like structure in the garden too

Shrubs provide the backbone of a garden & some are lovely in their own right.

All your Shrubs look wonderful, if only I had the space.

Beautiful planting Dawn. Really lovely. I love a good shrub and there are some crackers in there!

So glad it has settled in for you. I have pulled a load out yesterday where my new hedgehog lodge is now sited.

Love the garden seat area. So tranquil.

this is what I've been trying to achieve, Da. I have the large forest trees and the grasses at the stream...what I need are the in-betweens. I love the sambucus niger...I could grow it and hydrangeas and viburnums at my town garden but they didn't like where I put them and croaked the first winter or I had to move them at the wrong time of year, and I lost almost all. The majority were too large to move and it was the wrong time of year (new years 2010) Have bought a viburnum and some euonymous but the budget is still town size...while the present garden tends to swallow the newbies. (now where did I plant that, sambucus?) I really enjoyed this blog and will consult it again I'm sure. love it...can't wait 'til I can post some progress pictures too!

I love form and texture in leaves. Colour and tone add a great backdrop to flowers. I like the big statements leaves can make. Our Gunnera is a big statement.
Your garden is beautiful Dawn.it says it all.

Your garden look lovely Dawn,I love shrubs and grasses they are the back bone of my garden.I love the photo with the bench in it,just beautiful.

Lovely blog Dawn - gorgeous Cornus!

Thanks everyone for your kind comments. I think this year has been the best I can remember, the plants are doing great.
Lori, looking forward to your progress pictures.

Thanks Dawn... I was out yesterday working in the veggie garden and noticed that the young cornus has blossoms. When spring finally arrives she strikes with a vengeance!

Its all delightful on the eye Dawn .

I agree. I think the architectural plants add the structure to the garden and provide the much needed background to the flowers. Your garden looks lovely.

Thank you for some great ideas! Can you tell me the name of the reddish plant, 3rd pic, lower right? Does it stay that size? Looks ideal for my border.

Bathgate, on the third picture it's Sambucus and Cornus, do you mean that photo?

Dawn you ve gone to your 4th photo lol I think it looks like a heuchera the smaller plant deep burgandy red coloured leaf one on the 3rd picture bottom right photo .

Thank you. Great Ideas!

I dont like the word 'fan'. Those shrubs deserve the correct nomenclature.

Oh yes 3d, sorry and you're right it's heuchera

lol I thought it was Dawn.

You have such a wonderful garden, so much going on, great foliage and colours.

Very kind of you Julien

I agree Dawn I am very fond of Architectural plants, we grow a few monsters! your garden looks wonderful, and does justice to some beauties.....

Thanks Dawn ill have to look for a red one

Dotty, I know you do, we have similar tastes, I wish it was warmer here to have some of your jungle plants, even Fatsia struggle but it's been a great year, only one late frost in May.

Paul, once you start on Heucheras you will be hooked! There are so many wonderful colours, they’re evergreen, and even have tiny flowers on long stems.

Sheila .... hooked it hookered lol

LOL that sounds funny Dawn. I see what you mean Sheila. Hard to choose one. The one called 'Glitter' really caught my eye. What's the best situation for Huecheras; sun or shade? Do you think they can handle New York Winter? Zone 6b?

They're tough Bathgate. They like shade but will take some sun, there are so many to choose from. Karen has a heuchera corner, she did a blog a while back, in the UK vine weevil get to their roots especially in pots but they can be saved, if you lift, sort and replant.

I will take a look Dawn, thanks. I'm sure anyone I look at is going to be my favorite! ")

Haha