Mid-Atlantic Gardening: flower bed design help needed, 1 by critterologist

critterologist wrote:
Like this...

The "patio" area with flagstones or pavers is a place where you could set a small bench, birdbath, etc... or even a couple of big container plantings for an extra splash of color.

I've been planting irises and columbines along the back portion of my perennial area. Most of my plants die back in the winter, so the irises put on a show in early summer for me while everything else is just starting to sprout up. Later on, when the iris foliage doesn't look so great, there's plenty of other goodies in front of it. When I drew in those pathways coming in toward the monument from either side, I thought of your multitude of irises for the strip of garden bed behind the monument on the other side of the paths.

Obviously, you could play a lot with the size and shape of the beds and paths, but maybe seeing it "painted" onto your photo the way Lady & I did it will get you started.