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[quote=Anonymous]OP here, first, thank you all for your suggestions! Of course after reading all of them, I now have even more questions and ideas for you all:

For the soil, I just bought top soil and compost to mix into the existing soil. Is investing in a leaf composter a good idea for the future? We have tons and tons of leaves every year a out property is basically in the middle of an oak forest. As for the watering, I guess I just assumed I'd do it manually every morning but now I will look into a ground hose system per a PP's suggestion.

What about mulch? When do I mulch? Right after planting or in the fall or next spring?

Agree (reluctantly) with everyone that I have too many plants. Here is what I am thinking now:

The plot is roughly a "V" shape. The center of it - the point of the "V" - is a large triangle. This triangle gets full sun but the two "arms" do not. One arm gets a little more sun than the other, but both get about 2-3 hours of direct sunlight in late morning and then dappled.

What I am thinking is putting all my yellows, oranges, reds, and splashes of purple in the middle. I've narrowed it down to: black eyed Susan, tickseed, blanket flower, and some purple coneflower and meadow blazing star. Maybe some helenium for late season color. I suppose I better add in 6 milkweed there, too..

Then on the arms (partial shade), I'll have blues, whites, and splashes of pinks. I'm thinking: bergamot, sweet William phlox, columbine, astilbes, and asters.. And bell flowers.. And maybe I'll throw a joe pye or two in the back.

How does that sound? Still too many different flowers? Will the sun-loving, warm colors in the middle look bad with the partial shade, cool colors flanking??

What say you all? Thanks for your tips... and patience :)[/quote]

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