Question
A couple of years ago, we moved to my husband's grandparent's farm.  My mother-in-law lived here before us and unfortunately was not able to keep the big yard up.  This place has so much potential.  There are large stone walls in the front and back yard; the back yard is literally 2 different "levels".  In the front, there is a stone wall with a sidewalk in the middle of it going up to the house.  On the north side of the side walk is lawn and the south side (which is the north side of my house) is a "flower bed" that is 7 different areas seperated by big limestone rocks and every area is a different height.  Closest to my front door is the highest going lower towards the rock wall.  At the very top, I have planted hybiscus and they are doing great.  Next level I planted purple coneflowers.  Also doing great.  I would like some suggestions on what to plant in the other areas?  Could you also tell me the best time to cut back my hybiscus & coneflowers?  Fall or spring and how far do I cut them down?  Thank you for your help and your time.  Sincerely, Dawny

Answer
Dawny,
Sounds like you are on the right track.Just use the type of perennials you are using now. But wait til spring to see if there are any spring flowering bulbs like crocus,Daffodils,tulips,etc before you do any more digging.You could cut into and damage beautiful plants yet to come up.And when and if you do see them come up and bloom,get some good metal markers and mark what they are and place them in the location of them,so that when you do start adding more plants you will know where not to dig.

Low maintenance perennials like Coneflowers,Black Eyed Susan ,Garden Phlox,Shasta Daisies,purple Russian Sage.Herbs like Catmint are great edging plants that like to flow down slopes as well as creeping phlox which is a perfect rock garden creeper that holds down erosion on banks or terraced gardens as well as being a low maintenace perennial that blooms brilliantly in the early Spring every season and is also evergreen the rest of the year.

Filler plants like Artemesias and soft wooly Lambs ears which are grey or silver foilaged perennials that don't bloom are great in country gardens just for their contrasting foilage color against the brighter blooms of other perennials. Also don't leave out dwarf evergreen shrubs,flowering shrubs and ornamental grasses that add winter interest to the garden and fill in spaces that appear blank or bleak in those winter months when plants are dormant.

Think about garden statuary too.Such as birdbaths,bird feeders and houses,figurines,big pots,trellises. I could go on forever because this is what I do.HA!

Here are some great sources to look at on the web:White Flower Farm, Shady Oaks Nursery,Walters Perennials(or Gardens),Jackson & Perkins,Khelm's Song Sparrow Perennial Farm,Van Bourgondien Bulbs,Van Dyck's Bulbs,Brent & Becky's Bulbs,Plants by Mail,Gardener's supply Co.,Bluestone Perennials,Sheperds seeds

All these companies offer free catalogs too and a lot of specials if you order online.
I am assuming you are talking about a Hibiscus plant,not tree.If it is a Hibiscus plant,which is very tallwith several thick stalks and blooms the size of saucers then those are the common ones,but never common to us gardeners when we see those gorgeous blooms,cut it all the way down to about 6 inches above soil level.That's it.Coneflowers and other perennials do the same.
Have a great fall season and good luck with your new "old" garden!