I'm glad that I finally made you realize that it is not the lawmakers who make the decision to ban certain species, who are the ones with any level of expertise on the subject, but rather they rely on the information they receive from whatever special interest group has the most influence. It confounds me how you can sit there in the PNW and presume to tell me that I know little of conditions here in the NE where I've grown up. It may be comforting for you to blindly accept all government edicts without question, but I just don't have that much faith in them. It's attitudes like that which have us now spending billions of dollars, and accruing a deficit which will probably not be paid in any of our lifetimes. Let's say for a moment that you are correct, the government knows what it's doing and there is valid reason to ban burning bush and Norway maple here. It was government agencies who for decades planted both species along highways and city streets, and in landscaping in parks and on the grounds of their own office buildings. By your logic those actions were absolutely wrong and environmentally reckless, ie, they made a mistake. It's my opinion that they're wrong now. One of us is right, and one of the state's actions were wrong, leading to my main point that they do make mistakes and should be questioned, rather than obediently followed no matter what they decide to throw at us. It's convenient to assume that one has a lack of knowledge when they disagree with your opinion, but it is more of a gamble to ask that they back up their side with proof, and potentially bring some to show that you are wrong. That you have not provided a single example of how the two species in question have caused any real environmental damage, shows me that your self righteous opinion of my supposed misunderstanding and lack of experience of the subject is just a bunch of hot air.

These are excellent choices for your streamside. However, Aronia melanocarpa isn't really a wetland shrub -- I would recommend planting it well above the stream. Also, I'm not sure about the wet tolerance of Rosa virginiana. You could consider Rosa palustris instead -- though it is larger than virginiana. Another idea: Rhododendron viscosum, which doesn't offer berries, but it's beautiful and fragrant. As for pruning, some shrubs can be kept smaller if, every year, you cut out a few of the oldest and tallest stems. This works with Ilex verticillata, for example, and I suspect it would also work for the Aronia, Cephalanthus, and Viburnum. The Sambuccus will, I think, be hard to keep down to 5 feet, because it wants to be a good deal larger, and it's fast-growing. You could also choose cultivars that will stay small. Dwarf cultivars exist for Aronia arbutifolia, Ilex verticillata, and Viburnum trilobum (I think). The disadvantage, of course, is reduced genetic diversity.

Sounds like you are doing just about everything right - except positive marketing of the 'Donald Wyman' fruit. Need some different birds, maybe. As far as your shrub choices, those are all good for fruit/foliage/fall color. They differ dramatically in form, however. **The Aronia arbutifolia is quite leggy and always appears to me to be having a bad hair day. In fall color, it is great - and its red winter fruit display is fabulous and long lasting. **Arrowwood Viburnum is steadfast and tough. It will set blue fruit in midsummer, which birds scarf up before fall. Most forms have a mix of yellow/orange/red fall color which doesn't dazzle. You'd have to narrow the field to a select few to guarantee that autumn show of brighter reds/oranges. Arrowwood is generally pretty big, as well, typically 8-12' tall and wide. **Viburnum nudum is a great species, and there are several fine forms to use. It forms a broad rounded mound for me, always has glossy summer foliage and mostly long lasting burgundy fall color - though some selections can develop reds/oranges/pinks/yellows within their range. The stellar gradations and evolution of fruit colorations never fails to please - this unmatched but by a few plants. Expect this plant to reach 8' as well. If you weren't already aware, plan to plant at least two different clones of the viburnums in your group of three, to ensure heavy fruiting. Viburnums are typically poor at self-pollenizing - but great at cross-pollenizing. So (for example) if you choose V. nudum, plant 'Winterthur' AND 'Brandywine' in the grouping. If you plant all 'Winterthur', expect poor fruit set.

It looks like you have a nice large property there! I assume the shed (?) in the back is yours too? Is the usual primary viewing of this area the one in the picture? If so, be careful that placement of tres, shrubs and large perennials (e.g. the Persicaria) doesn't block the view of the building (assuming you don't want to deliberately hide it....). It looks like there might be an arbour there too....? When I look at the pictures of my Persicaria, I notice that most of their companions are white-flowering too, with the effect being the Persicarias forming a background to a larger picture. So I'd probably be inclined to spread around other white-flowering things of a similar stature that would keep the area white (a color very visible from a long distance away...) over most of the season. You could start the spring with a serviceberry (which would also give fall foliage colour and berries for people and birds), a pearlbush would be nice to follow, along with viburnum. Bridalwreath or Snowmound spirea could fit in there too. There are lots of white hydrangeas that bloom at various times through the summer, some with flowers that turn pink in the late summer. Our C. kousa dogwood looks good with a Persicaria by the patio when they bloom together. For fall you could try a Heptacodium tree. That's a lot of plants! You'd need to draw a plan to scale to figure out how many plants would fit and not block the desired views. I find big blue hostas go nicely near the Persicarias if there is shade and moisture for them and blue-flowered perennials or perennials with flowers in the cooler tones of pink and red look good too. Deep red hardy hibiscuses are fabulous with white-flowered companions in late summer.. Lots of potential there.. you need to decide on what look you want, what views you want to keep - or hide, and how much - and what kind - of maintenance you're prepared to do. Take some pictures of the area and doodle ideas on them to help get a feel for what you'd like. Have fun!