Front garden area

Starting to plan the garden area for the front porch. So far I have develop a google sketch up model to lay it out.

Its really a simple model. So far the goal is to have a planting area next to the stairs that provides cut flowers through out the growing season. Since we live in a zone 5b it will be little interesting. The other thing I am thinking about is that my wife and I saw a humming bird come to our front porch. We may incorporate some flowers for the humming birds and butterflies in the neighborhood.


Each green space beside the stairs is roughly 9' x 6'. At the far left side of the picture next to the overhang is where the gutter comes down (sorry I didn't draw it in) but I plan to add rain barrel here to collect water to water the plants.


Because the porch is floor is about 4' off the ground. I want the tallest plants roughly 4'-5' tall.


Below are some of the flowers I am thinking about:

Cardinal Flower | Lobelia cardinalis

Growth Habit: Herb

Life Span: Perennial

Mature Height: 3.0'

Mature Width: 1.0'

Flower Color: Red

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Sun

Water Requirement: Wet to Moist

Foxglove Beardtongue | Penstemon digitalis

Growth Habit: Herb

Life Span: Perennial

Mature Height: 2.0'

Mature Width: 1.0'

Flower Color: White

Sun Requirement: Full Sun to Part Sun

Water Requirement: Moist to Medium

Large-flower beardtongue | Penstemon grandiflorus

Growth Habit: Herb

Life Span: Perennial

Mature Height: 3.0'

Mature Width: 1.0'

Flower Color: Pink

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Drained to Dry

Showy Beardtongue | Penstemon cobaea

Growth Habit: Herb

Life Span: Perennial

Mature Height: 2.0'

Mature Width: 1.0'

Flower Color: White

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Water Requirement: Drained to Dry

I plan to place the large and showy beardtongues on the right since they are both drained to dry for water requirements. And the foxglove and the cardinal on the left since they both need more water. It also helps that the foxglove and the cardinal do not require as much sun light.

 I still have not decided on my filler plants more than likely they will be Gerberas or Carnations or tulips or daffodils. I need some sort of greenery I supposed. Clearly i have not made up my mind yet.