Rosie, I love what you did to the mop head. I'm guessing it's a thuja plicata? If it is a thuja, it's amazing the deer have left it alone, but here I do find that things planted closer to the house stand a better chance, although my camellia, which is right outside my office window, has been snacked on a few time this winter. I think the daphne is a great idea. Oddly enough I noticed that I had it on one of my lists, but never picked one up. Arlene, your Carol Mackie looks wonderful. I snagged the pic from here and incorporated into the design.
The attached is what I'm thinking about for a design. It's impossible for it to ever look this this as the plants I have in place are largely shown in bloom, and those shown blooming here don't bloom at the same time. But this design holds things in place and things are easier to identify when blooming. The design incorporates the suggestions for boxwoods, mountain laurel, astilbe, and the daphne. (Thanks all around.) It also has the quince, shown more mature in this mockup, among other plants I have. Other notions that I've included is joe pye weed, and a ruscus aculeatus 'Wheeler's' (far right) which should do nicely in the dry soil and dappled light. I will also work in a couple dwarf nandina that I have, and really like for winter interest (and the deer don't touch them). I don't love love love the design, but it gives me something to work with and contemplate before the real doing season is upon us here. An annual that I really like is Senorita Rosalita cleome which does okay in this garden and will likely find a home in the re-do. But such designs are like recipes that we build on to taste, and always with the prayer that it works.
