I have a corner of my house yard that needs help. It has a lovely Juniper shrub that I pruned last year to look rather Bonsai-ish. That can stay.
The rest just needs to be nuked; it’s a weedy mess. I need some large rocks hauled up from the pasture, and a lot of mulch or maybe stone. Am thinking of making a small-ish Japanese Garden, based on the Juniper that’s already there, and I do want to plant a tree in memory of a good friend we lost last year. (Not Covid; heart attack.) Maybe a Japanese Maple - which I have always wanted. The backdrop are a mature Colorado Blue Spruce and a Norway Spruce. The Japanese Maple would have protection from the wind in winter.
Probably more small evergreens, to keep with the theme. Partial sun, maybe 4-5 hours a day. I want it LOW maintenance, and I’m also open to a bench for sitting and a birdbath or something like that. The area is 10 feet deep and 12-15 feet wide; kind of pie-slice shape. It was once a planted perennial garden, but due to neglect (not mine, LOL!) all but a few spring bulbs have petered out.
Juniper Bonsai. Japanese Maple. Evergreen Backdrop. Maybe some Hakone Grass or other perennial grasses? I already have Karl Foerster grass along the front of the house with the smaller Viburnum and a clump in with my roses.
Any suggested shrubs/grasses that I might be overlooking? Zone 4-5. No rush. I know this is a busy time of your for you! It’s probably not happening this year; I’ve got too much on my plate already; but it’s fun to plan. :)
Off the top of my head, Blue Star juniper that grows short and small, mondo grass, Iris/Japanese Iris. Does the plum yew grow in your zone (I’m in Zone 7b). Here we have the ‘Dukes Plum Yew” which is fuller. I love using it. Fatzia variegated? Lots of rock and pea gravel, simple. Here we have ‘2-man boulders’ which work as ‘seats’ atop a 1=man boulder. Just thoughts...
Mugo pines are very nice, low growing and when planted in a row can give a carpet effect.