Hellebores & violets & cyclamens all flower in the colder months, though not sure how early they start.
Hydrangeas are often lovely in shaded spots, though you need to prune them back hard and they like a bit of water thru summer.
Daphne smells divine and flowers in the winter, gardenias also smell lovely and have gorgeous glossy foliage.

ETA or you could do a little BH&G style makeover, and hang up a decorative board or paint the wall or hang wall feature things, with a statue or urn in front of it, and then a few plants around it. That would be lovely to look out on.