Is there anything in the bed now that's worth saving? Does it get full sun, part shade, ?
What do you want to use for a "repeated element" to tie it together -- rhodis/azaleas? grasses?
I should be available that Sunday. One thing I know I have is LOTS of yellow & white dwarf iris, but I don't know if that will be appropriate to the overall scheme. Oh, and I have a red-flowering azalea that I bought because it was on clearance shelf LOL and then realized I don't really have a good spot for it. I think it's a 2 gallon pot, maybe 18" tall/wide.
The 4-H symbol is green -- is there another color to keep in mind? What's Larry's favorite color?
With all the work he's done with 4-H, it would be neat to have a "memorial garden" there. Are they willing to keep it up with regular weeding and mulching? Are they willing to contribute whatever $ they were going to spend on "a few somethings" or at least buy mulch?
If the soil is pretty good, we might consider using longer-lasting mini pine bark nuggets instead of shredded mulch. (If the soil needs improving, then shredded mulch gets worked into the soil every year by the worms as it breaks down.)
If we're putting in shrubs and perennials (some grasses for texture, maybe), we're talking about leaving a lot of empty space for them to grow and mature. We may want some annuals and/or a few big containers to provide more color and interest. Big containers would add height variation that would be lacking until shrubs mature... I have a resin whisky-barrel (half barrel) container available.
I can also offer a bright yellow gaillardia and a matching yellow achillea... also from clearance shelf, should look fine if I up-pot them (big plants and currently cramped in their gallon pots). Would need 1 more bright yellow thing, maybe somebody has an extra yellow ox-eye (Heliopsis helianthoides v. scabra). I'm big on doing things in odd numbers.
