Hi, I am new to the forum! I have a cute little house with a front porch facing north. I have been trying earnestly to create a cottage garden look, natural, unsculpted, perennial, but it is just not working. Partly because I love to be out there in the spring, but once the heat and humidity arives in July (central Connecticut River Valley),I hate to be outside, I become an air condition hound, so the garden gets neglected. It seems as though I need to find some low maintenance shrubs/bushes that tolerate a shady soil, which probably isn't the best,I'd also like color and texture too. It's about 2 - 3 feet to the bottom of the porch, in a single line, although I could add depth. I am so tired of it looking horrible. Please help!

Hi, welcome!
Is this an absolutely "no sun" site? Or is there some morning or afternoon sun?
Do you want only perennials? Or Are low maintenance annual plants OK?

The left corner gets some late afternoon sun. I think I'm leaning towards bushes, accenting with hosta and possibly a few annuals. I hate to spend the money every year!

Different types of hosta will give you pretty textures and color. Also caladiums will add the touch of red. May want to stick in a few ferns. There are perrenial geraniums that like the shade. Depending on how much room and how big of plants you want, daphne a dora's are great. They bloom in February and smell great.