Question
Hello, we live in Rochester, NY and would like to know what type of bushes you would recommend for the front of our house (within 2' from the house)

Answer
Bill,

Okay, you are in zone 4. Go to the following websites and look only at the shrubs that are for zone 4 or lower. By the way, 2' is too close for anything except dwarf evergreens. 4-5' is much better. Look at the sizes of the blooming shrubs and you will find that most are 4-6' tall or more. They will require annual pruning to keep them at a size suitable for landscaping.  The only carefree shrubs are dwarf evergreens so for blooming plants you have to be prepared for some work.  You might consider blooming shrubs on the corners, not in front of windows and dwarf evergreens in the center. That is just a thought. Good luck.

Darlene

http://horsfordnursery.com/new/plants/deciduous_shrubs/index.html

http://www.bachmans.com/retail/tipsheets/woodies/UncHardyShrubs.cfm

http://www.wallace-woodstock.com/flowornmshrubs.htm