Landscaping advise?

I live in Zone 7. I want to plant a perennial garden in my front yard that has color all year round, so I'm looking for plants that won't lie dormant in winter. Does anyone have suggestions for shrubs that flower through the spring and summer with leaves that turn color in winter?Landscaping advise?
That would be hard to find. Maybe you can combine plants that bloom in different time so you have something blooming all season.





Here are some plants that might good for your garden:





Helleborus: bloom in late winter to spring





Viburnum dentatum Blue Muffin: colorful garden presence year-round, white blooms, rich autumn foliage and blue berries that can last all winter.





Evergreen Azalea or Encore series: Encore can bloom in Spring and Fall.





Beautyberry Early Amethyst: Spring blooms and summer to fall fruit.Landscaping advise?
I advice you to click the link below. It may provide ideas and suggestions that comply to your need.
I'll give you specific suggestions towards the end, but here is some initial plant information which is good to know.





There is a difference between perennials and shrubs. Perennials grow during spring, summer and fall. In the winter


all the foliage dies and the plant becomes yellow and brown.





There are some perennials that still provide winter interest, such as ornamental grasses. They turn a wheat color and blow gently in the wind! However, this plant, while it provides beauty on its own along with nice texture, is not very colorful.





Perennials may be cut back in the fall or early spring so that the older foliage does not mix with the new growth in the spring. But basically they are not going to give you winter color.





Shrubs and trees may provide color through the spring, summer, fall and winter. However, normally one plant does not provide everything.





So the way to design your landscape to create color through all seasons, including winter, is to create a wide mix of different types of plants.





1. Annual are flowers that will last only for the summer. But, they give constant color throughout that season.





2. Perennials can give you color throughout the spring summer and fall. Different perennials flower at different seasons. They will die but return the following year.





3. Shrubs keep their structure all year. There are two kinds. Those that loose their leaves in the winter (deciduous) and those that keep there leaves in the winter (evergreen).


You may ask, why use the deciduous at all? The answer is because they can have magnificent flower displays. And there are a few evergreen shrubs that flower, which you probably want to include.





4.Trees are like the shrubs....deciduous and evergreen.





So after all that......a few suggestions. I have put an * next to those that are evergreen shrubs that also flower!





Please know your sun conditions and look up the requirements for any plants you choose....and be aware of plants that deer love if you have that problem.





Spring - Daffodils, Tulips, Lilacs, Flowering Quince, Japanese Andromeda* (white/pink flowers in spring), Redbud, Mountain Pinks





Summer - Roses, Butterfly Bush , Rhododendron*(many flower colors to choose from), Mountain Laurel*(white/pink flowers (early summer/late spring), Hydrangea





Fall - Mums, Asters, Burning Bush, Red Maple ' October Glory', Black-eyed Susans





Winter - Nandina*(reddish leaves and berries), Blue Holly *


( evergreen leaves and red winter berries), Red Barberry* (may lose some leaves), Pansies (partial season)





These are just a few out of so many, but should provide you with what you are looking for. By the way, I happen to be in zone 7 also.


You can take a look here to see color in the landscape with perennials. http://www.susanschlenger.com/projects_8鈥?/a>


Good luck....Susan