Mao, that is a beautiful bed! Very nicely done! You have a great eye for contrasting forms, which really keeps the garden interesting to the viewer.
Rita, I don't draw out plans either- I've tried it, but it never quite works out, so its as the spirit leads, LOL. I think the most important thing to keep in mind while planting is the overall shape of the plant and form of the blooms in relation to its neighbors. While you do have several strappy leaved plants listed, having seen pics of your yard, I think you'll plenty of contrast with your mounding shrubs and annuals to give the bed textural interest. Being such a Lily fiend, I try to balance it with a good variety of spiky, fluffy, ball shaped, bell shaped, and daisy shaped blooms. Mao's pic demonstrates that idea beautifully. Some plants that I've not been fond of on their own, enhance the look of their neighbors so nicely, that I continue to grow them. I think that's the value of Alliums that Mao suggested, on their own they look like something from another planet, but alongside Lilies and Eremerus and some fluffy annuals, they offer pleasant contrast. However ball shaped Dahlias would offer a similar contrast, as well as any number of other flowers.
That's why I wish more catalogs would show pics of the whole plant in a garden setting rather than just the bloom. So often they have a totally different overall look than I was expecting.
Looking forward to the pics, and seeing how your project develops!
