I have a really odd shaped front yard, that had 8 inches of bark dust when I bought the house. I got rid of the "beauty bark" that wasn't beautiful, and have been planting hollyhocks along the house wall, and allysium (sp?) all along the lower edge. I have used multicolored holly hocks, and red and white mixed allysium. I have a riot of flowers all summer and fall. Kind of looks like a drunk's English garden. Very funky, very me!