Beginner Gardening: Suggestions Please!, 1 by ga_peach

ga_peach wrote:
Okay, so I am working on my masterpiece here. We bought our first home last summer and the first year I played gardener. I can only keep my kids alive. Now though, I think I like the plants better. Anyway, the builder put in the crappy stuff they usually put in (who puts 6 foot shrubs in front of windows?) I ripped all that out and here is what I have so far. I took a picture of my house and put vellum over it and drew all my ideas on it. I have already planted pretty much everything you see in the drawing and I think I did okay on the foundation plantings. Now what do I fill it with?

I want to do like a japanese rock garden. I am trying to do all foliage, no flowers. I want some space between plants and want to vary the textures and colors. I am also varying the groundcovers from juniper to mulch to rocks. I may even add some of those dock/pier wooden things. I also like warm colors, no cool tones. My house is yellow with warm red brick trim. I will also include a pic of a similar idea but it is more informal and smaller than the area I am working with.

The first 5 ft. nearest the home is shady, the rest is full to partial sun with the area furthest away getting the most sun. It is a NE exposure and we live just NE of Atlanta in zone 7b/8a. I have mostly clay soil. The total area will extend further to the right than I could get in on this paper. It is on a steep slope and we are trying for a 'no mow' slope.' The total size will be about 20 ft. from front to back and 60 ft. wide.

I wanted to see about putting some ostrich fern in but can't decide where or even whether it would look right. Any suggestions would really help. I tend to like very clean looking plants and tropical as opposed to feathery, wispy looking stuff. Love ornamental grasses. Love reds, oranges and electric purple too. What do I add and where?