Here are some before and after photos of a recent project.  Most of the plants are just breaking dormancy so it may be hard to visualize this as lush as it will be by summer’s end but just the addition of the bed itself has added a much more inviting and pleasing feeling.  This front side of the house is actually not used that much as an entry but adding this bed makes it at least feel like more of the front of the house.  We went with a combination of reliable standards (Cherry Laurels, Crape Myrtle “Burgundy Cotton”, Liriope etc) and some natives and prairie plants (Rudbeckia Laciniata “Herbstonne”, Pink Muhly, Echinacea Purpurea etc.).