This is my problem....

[Northernrose]

If you want an evergreen, you could plant boxwood. It's shearable, or you could let it go a little billowy for a more casual look, and just shape with hand clippers occasionally.
Holly would work too as an evergreen, there are dwarf varieties.
Mugo pines can be kept small and sheared.

x2 a circle of boxwood or a variety of dwarf heavenly bamboo (Nandina) plus maybe a nice flower pot on top of the lid for seasonal color.

 

[vfem]

I use a mix of Canna's and daffadils w/ Tulips mixed in. So in the spring the tulips/daffodils hide what I need them to. Then as they are dying the cannas come up and cover for the rest of the summer into fall. They should do well in your zone. The cannas come in a mix of colors, as well as some with a nice purple shaded foliage.

Just a suggestion so you can get something perennial. They all get planted this fall too so you should find them all easily!

 

[momofdrew]

if you want shrubs... poinitellia[sp?]is a good flowering shrub... then there are dozens of different spiria...azalia... forsithia....lilac...mock orange...flowering quince... you could find shrubs that flower at different times of the year to have almost continual flowers...or evergreens....Juniper box wood...etc..

 

[LovinLife]

I use a mix of Canna's and daffadils w/ Tulips mixed in. So in the spring the tulips/daffodils hide what I need them to. Then as they are dying the cannas come up and cover for the rest of the summer into fall. They should do well in your zone. The cannas come in a mix of colors, as well as some with a nice purple shaded foliage.

Just a suggestion so you can get something perennial. They all get planted this fall too so you should find them all easily!

That sounds like a plan! I wanted the canna's but was worried they get too tall but I could keep them short by cutting back in the spring right?

 

[Just-Moxie]

Hmmmm...pondering your question. DH suggests you should prob check with local health dept to see if they have any restrictions on septic landscaping.

 

[vfem]

I use a mix of Canna's and daffadils w/ Tulips mixed in. So in the spring the tulips/daffodils hide what I need them to. Then as they are dying the cannas come up and cover for the rest of the summer into fall. They should do well in your zone. The cannas come in a mix of colors, as well as some with a nice purple shaded foliage.

Just a suggestion so you can get something perennial. They all get planted this fall too so you should find them all easily!

That sounds like a plan! I wanted the canna's but was worried they get too tall but I could keep them short by cutting back in the spring right?

The cannas, foliage and all die in the winter. I usually just trim down to ground level in Febuary when I trim my roses so in a month I see the tulips and daffs popping up. The canna's foliage keep their color well into December here, even though the blooming ends mid-September. I do this around my mailbox with the very back of the bed being lavender, which is about mid-height and I need it more for its uses then color. Just happens to be a good drainage area.