Thanks Terri and CS.
T -- I think the mountain laurel is an especially wonderful idea. I have also been thinking about boxwoods which can at least add some bones to the bed. Astilbes will be part of the mix, as they do stand a chance. This fall I planted alliums, and I have a pulmonaria that does well. The thalictrums and trilliums are lovely, and new to me. I'll give them a shot.
I have another bed, farther away from the woods and close to the house that has a camellia and hellebore. I will be putting in more hellebores with that this year. The camellia gets nibbled, but not seriously damaged, yet the deer snag the blooms as quickly as they appear.
CS- I'm especially glad to hear about the rose of Sharon. I have a few that I put in on the side of the house this year. The Chamaecyparis is a surprise to me. I'll need to hunt some down. I have a dwarf Alberta blue spruce in the front which I really like, and am glad to learn of your success with that too. I do spray but that gets expensive and it's always a challenge of timing for me. The fence is a pretty option and I think I might use it in another section of the gardens here.
I hope the next few years with your good advice will yield some nice results. Thanks again.