A difficult entrance

How to make this corner interesting?

The gardeners would like to have easy-care plants which blend/lead into the adjoining meadow. What about

Pennisetum 'Fairy Tails' (http://www.knollgardens.co.uk/choose-the-right-plants-for-your-garden/) — Pennisetum ‘Fairy Tails’ (http://www.knollgardens.co.uk/choose-the-right-plants-for-your-garden/)

Montbretia flowering in the Parc Botanique de Haute Bretagne in very late August

Crocosmia flowering in Wyken Hall Gardens in August

Crocosmia Masonionorum seems an interesting variety, and I have grown ‘Lucifer’, which is tall and wonderful amongst other shrubs or plants.

Crocosmia 'Lucifer' amongst Cornus Variegata and Sedums — Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ amongst Cornus Variegata and Sedums

There is quite a bit of shade cast by the Acer, so what about Geranium Macrorrhizum, Bergenias, Hakonechloa, or Euphorbia Amgdaloides ‘Robbiae’? or Anemanthele?

Anemanthele (http://www.knollgardens.co.uk/product/anemanthele-lessoniana/)

hakonechloa-aurea (http://www.knollgardens.co.uk/product/hakonechloa-macra-aureola-alboaurea/)

Yellow Hakonechloa on the left, with Miscanthus, Sedums, and Nepeta

But what about the succession of interest? Daffodils will flower in Spring, as might Bergenias which will at least be green; and the Euphorbias are evergreen and then lime green flowers follow. Geraniums will flower in May, and then stay green for the rest of the summer and autumn. Grasses will grow up over the summer, flowering from August and through to October, accompanied by the Montbretia. This should be a reliable beginning for a difficult patch.