Shrub ideas for the front garden

Herb's Low Dense Yew - Taxus x media 'Herb's Low-Dense'

Zone: 4 H: 3-5' S: 4-8'
One of the best yews we grow. Selected by the late Herbert Trautman. Low spreader that does not winter burn. A good substitute for T. cuspidata 'Nana'.
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Spiced Bouquet™ Koreanspice Viburnum - Viburnum carlesii 'J.N. Select'

Zone: 4 H: 6' S: 7'
Spiced Bouquet™ Viburnum was selected in the late 1980’s by Michael Yanny at Johnson’s Nursery, Inc. This cultivar has a denser growth habit than the typical Viburnum carlesii seedling, as well as a pronounced glossy sheen to the leaves. Other characteristics are typical of the species, including the intense, sweet-spiced flower fragrance.
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Spice Island™ Koreanspice Viburnum - Viburnum carlesii 'J.N. Select A'

Zone: 4 H: 5' S: 6'
Spice Island™ was selected in 2000 at Johnson's Nursery. Inc. from open-pollinated Viburnum carlesii seedlings. It is a compact form which develops much more uniformly during the production process. This cultivar branches better that other Viburnum carlesii 'Compacta' cultivars in the trade, making for considerably fewer one-sided or poor structured plants. Spice Island™ matures at one half to two thirds the size of a typicalViburnum carlesii plant.
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Sugar n' Spice™ Koreanspice Viburnum - Viburnum carlesii 'J.N. Select S'

Zone: 4 H: 8' S: 8'
Sugar n' Spice is a heavy flowering cultivar with the same sweet-spiced, floral fragrance for which the species is known. The flower clusters (cymes) are smaller than average, but are much more plentiful throughout the body of the plant. This plant needs at least six hours of direct sunlight, as well as, rich, moist, well-drained soil to perform at its peak. The plant was selected at Johnson's Nursery, Inc. from open-pollinatedViburnum carlesii seedlings.
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Irish Setter™ Dogwood - Cornus racemosa 'J.N. Red Stem'

Zone: 3 H: 12' S: 12'
Selected from local ecotype seedlings growing at Johnson's Nursery. Irish Setter™ has superior resistance to septoria leaf spot, which is very common on this species. Has a beautiful maroon fall color. In winter, the wood from the previous growing season retains a showy, bright red color. Irish Setter™ suckers at a lower rate than the species.
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Redwing® Viburnum - Viburnum trilobum 'J.N. Select'

Zone: 2 H: 12' S: 12'
Viburnum trilobum ‘J.N. Select’ originated in 1983. It was selected from seedling plants for its showy red growing tips and neat dense habit. Found by plant propagator, Michael Yanny, at Johnson’s Nursery, Inc., ‘J.N. Select’ is a taxonomically correct Viburnum trilobum cultivar as opposed to the many Viburnum opulus plants in the trade being sold under the name of Viburnum trilobum. ‘J.N. Select’ matures at 8-12’ with a similar spread. Three to four inch diameter flat-topped flower clusters appear in mid to late May and are extremely handsome. Clusters of small, bright red fruits remain colorful all winter. The lush, dark green leaves of ‘J.N. Select’ turn a bright red color in the fall. The plant has a medium growth rate. Viburnum crown borer can be a problem when planted in wet soils. The Chicagoland Grows Program has formally introduced Viburnum trilobum‘J.N. Select’ into the horticulture industry. The plant has the trademarked name Redwing™ Viburnum. For growers license contact Angela Treadwell Palmer at Chicagoland Grows, Inc., phone number 1-847-835-8301 ext. 8309 or email at apalmer@chicagobotanic.org.

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Random tulips are blooming but not those that I planted last fall.

Bleeding hearts are blooming.

Little purple and whites are blooming.

A gardening team came over today to clean my garden. Oh, what joy!

Ideas:

More bluebells on the side. 1/2 near sidewalk between first two trees now. They are gone earlier this week.

More crocus -- really big ones.

Ice Follies look great but the garden needs more spring bulbs. Two more rounds of daffs -- very early and later? oranges, deep yellows. something Jazzy for the late daffs. And all around the front until the back yard gate.

Hyicynths with the daffs. Many are out now and look great with the daffs.

April garden

Ice Follies are up and out, looking very much alone right now. The hundred bulbs I planted last fall look sparse spread around the front garden beds. I could use something purple -- hyacinths? wild ones? -- and some oranges -- more narcissus.

We are going to have the garden professionally cleaned and readied for the season. A gift from Indy friends. A great gift because I don't think I could do it myself in a timely manner. Maybe for July.

Crocus

Crocuses are out. I have a few bunches of yellow crocuses in the herb circle in the front garden. I want more!

Planting

Planting bulbs today.

100 Ice Follies Narcissus set to come up in April at 18-20 inches
50 China Town Tulip set to come up in May at 12 inches
50 Daystemon Tulip set to come up in April at 6 inches.

Weekend update

Lugwort, lilac, lilly of the valley, jack in the pulpit, and soon peonies

Pulmonaria - common name Lugwort: Pulmonaria is an easy to grow perennial that will slowly spread to establish itself as a ground cover. The leaves are often spotted white - sometimes described as spilt milk. The flowers are nice in early spring but they are more often grown for the nice effect of their leaves. They like some shade and can get a little brown on the edges if grown in too much sun. This plant looks better close up and it does not stand out in the distance because its leaves are usually under 1-foot tall.

Lilly of the valley -- in France, people celebrate May day by exchanging sprigs of muguet (lily-of- the-valley) Charles IX started the tradition in 1561. He received a bonny little bouquet himself as a symbol of luck and Springtime. He liked it so much that he gave every lady in court this lovely bell shaped blossom!
Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) -- Jack in the Pulpit is also known as Indian Turnip. Plant Type: This is a herbaceous plant, it is a perennial which can reach 65cm in height (25inches). Leaves: This plant has basal leaves only. Usually two but sometimes one. Each leaf is divided into three almost equal parts.Flowers: The flowers are irregular in shape and are up to 8cm long (3 inches). They are green with purple or brown stripes sometimes brownish. Blooms first appear in mid spring and continue into late spring. The spathe (pulpit) is most often green streaked with purplish. The spadix (jack) is covered with tiny male and female flowers.Fruit: A cluster of bright red shiny berries.Habitat: Rich moist woods.Range: New Brunswick south to Florida.

I seem to have one plant with two flowers on it right now.

Also,

Ajuga - common name Bugleweed: Ajuga is usually grown for its ground hugging purple leaves. It spreads quickly and can be an aggressive ground cover and a problem in lawns. It will grow in sun or shade and has short spikes of violet flowers in spring. Very colorful when in bloom and nice color in leaves when out of bloom. Care has to be taken to make sure it has room to spread without interfering with other plants.

Heuchera - common name Coral Bells: Heuchera has two types that are commonly grown that work in completely different situations. Coral Bells grown for their flowers bloom in late spring for about a month with tall stalks about 2-ft. and filled with many small bell shaped pink to red flowers. The flowers are nice but work best mixed with other flowers because of their small size. When not in bloom the foliage of some varieties have interesting ring markings on green leaves and are usually low growing clumps. These varieties work best with some sun for best flowering.The other type of Heuchera is grown for its foliage, which is dark purple. The leaves are larger and the plants can grow to over 24-inches. These plants can be grown in the shade and can stand drier conditions. The flowers are insignificant on most of these types. This is a great plant for a shade garden, but I think it looks best when seen up close because its dark leaves can get lost in the distance in a shady garden. One nice variety is "Palace Purple"

The Colorado blue columbine (Aquilegia caerulea) is generally described as a Perennial Forb or herb. This Dicot (dicotyledon) is native to the U.S. (United States) and has its most active growth period in the Spring and Summer . The Colorado Blue Columbine has Green foliage and conspicuous Blue flowers, with conspicuous Brown fruits or seeds. The greatest bloom is usually observed in the Late Spring, with fruit and seed production starting in the Spring and continuing until Summer. Leaves are not retained year to year. The Colorado Blue Columbine has a Short life span relative to most other plant species and a Moderate growth rate. At maturity, the typical Colorado Blue Columbine will reach up to 2 feet high, with a maximum height at 20 years of 2 feet.

In the background, there is a Wild ColumbineAquilegia canadensisButtercup family (Ranunculaceae)

Description: This native perennial plant is 1-3' tall and sparingly branched. The round stems are green to reddish green and glabrous or pubescent. At first, only basal leaves are produced, but later there are alternate leaves along the stems. These leaves are ternately compound (divided into groups of 3 leaflets) and they have long petioles that are glabrous or pubescent. Each leaflet is up to 3" long and 2" across; it is usually obovate in shape with a wedge-shaped bottom, but it divides into 3 rounded lobes. Each of these lobes is often subdivided into several secondary lobes, resembling large rounded teeth. The upper surface of each leaflet is glabrous and there may be areas with a whitish bloom. The leaflets can be sessile or stalked. The upper stems produce flowers individually or in groups of 2-3. Each flower is about 1½" long and it hangs downward from a long stalk. This flower has 5 petals, 5 petal-like sepals, and strongly exerted stamens and styles. Each petal is yellow and rounded toward the tip, but its base consists of a long nectar spur that is pale red to purplish red. The sepals are ovate in shape and they are the same color as the nectar spurs. The nectar spurs of mature flowers are erect (parallel to each other) or slightly spreading. The anthers of the stamens are bright yellow. The blooming period occurs from late spring to early summer and lasts about a month. There is no floral scent. Each flower is replaced by 5 pod-shaped follicles that have long beaks. Each follicle splits open along one side to release the shiny black seeds. The root system is fibrous and rhizomes are occasionally produced.Cultivation: The preference is light shade to partial sun, moist to dry conditions, and soil that is loamy, rocky, or slightly sandy. Mature plants can also tolerate full sun, although young plants require some shade from neighboring vegetation. Once it becomes established, this plant is easy to maintain.

Something I need to find:

Iberis - common name Candytuft: Iberis is a low growing evergreen perennial with white flowers in early spring. It keeps a neat compact growing habit for many years. Grows best with some sun.

Purchases (from a neighborhood plant sale. Everything was very reasonable. Thank goodness it was mostly picked over.)

Leatris
Russian Sage
??? Another ground cover -- variegated with purple flowers.