My suggestion would be to pick up the most recent copy of Fine Gardening magazine.....the August issue. There is an excellent article with some great photos on shade garden combinations.The focus is on foliage color and texture rather than flowers (always a good beginning point in any type of landscape design) but the range of possibilities with these is still very wide. And they do use a few annuals, coleus and red kale to name a couple.

Hosta, ferns, heuchera, japanese forest grass, astilbe

I like the idea of the Coral Bells with the Hydrandea. Just bought my second hydrangea today. First one was a gift years ago which promptly killed. I have a new house and have been trying to get make the garden mine. I have raised beds surrounding the pool in the back and two beds under the windows in front. The Sunset Garden bk says Hydrangeas are best planted alone or in a pot. I think they get two big for a pot. But am not sure where to plant them? Will they be ok in the back? it would be in sun- part shade. and I am adding lots of home made compost to the clay soil. I am worried this roundish plants will look out of place in the rectangle shaped raised beds. Am I better off planting it out front? It is sunnier out there but maybe under a small garden tree or where the pine trees would shade it some.