Plant Suggestions?

If you are wanting a medium sized bush you could try the Philadelphus coronarius 'Variegatus'. It has wonderful flowers that will becoming out very soon and once they are gone, you have a nice little bush with green and white (or sometimes yellow) leaves.

A low bush with purple blooms (they look like the blooms of the Phacelia) in mid-late summer is the Caryopteris clandonensis.

You didn't specify it the plant should be an annual or perennial, so I'm not sure what to offer as a suggestion.

If you want an annual, you could always plant a stand of phacelia to fill that plot. The bees and butterflies love it.

A perennial choice would be a Cistus. There are many different sorts--white or pink.

A Penstemon would look well there also. Of all the Penstemons I find the Penstemon‘Catherine de la Mare’ by far the most delicate and beautiful (but of course that is just my taste).

If you wanted to use Monarda's there then I would suggest combining colours.

A low maintenance plant sort are the Hemerocallis, or Daylily. There are so many different sorts of these in so many colours. Whew--you can find one that you like, I am sure.

The Knautia Macedonica. This wine-coloured flowering plant lasts all summer.

Finally one of the Rudbekia's or Echinacea's.

Gosh, Cheryl--there are so many choices. Good luck deciding Having an open place is a real luxury. Smile

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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html

Thanks Toni and Sjoerd. All lovely suggestions!
I took almost a 2 hour lunch break today. Visited two of the small local nurseries. One of which I've never been to. Nice place. Very helpful staff. And they had a nice "extra" variety of plants. Not just "the usual stuff".
Didn't find any of the things on Toni's list. But at least had a clue what to look for. Almost picked up a couple of different plants... but they weren't exactly what I had in mind. Afterall, what's the hurry... it's just a hole waiting to have something besides a weed planted in it, right?!
Laughing

Then I stopped by that "other Lowes". I don't know how two big box nationwide stores can be so different! This one seems so unorganized. And the staff aren't friendly at all. Again, I almost picked out something, but set it back on the rack and went back to work.
I did jot down a couple of plant names to look up when I got back to the office to see if they'd work for me.
Then it hit me! I'm going about this whole thing all wrong!
What I should do, is first... go the garden center and see what's available and THEN look up info... not the other way around! DUH!
So, on my way home I stopped at my "regular" Lowes to see what was there. Wasn't going to rush into anything. But, I'd already put in over 2 hours looking at plants and just couldn't come home to that hole empty handed! Laughing

So, I didn't get exactly what I had in mind... but oh well... I liked it.
It's the Red Autumn Sage.

plant tag ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )

Thanks Sjoerd for you suggestions also.
I can tell you that I only remember seeing a few of the plants you mentioned.
Daylilies (which were so very tempting, but I've got a separate bed for them), and the Rudbekia's or Echinacea's (which I also have growing in another bed).
One day I'm going to find the perfect nursery that just has everything I want and need right there waiting for me! Wink

Thanks again for the help... I'm jotting down the names in my notebook for future reference.