hellnzn11: The blue flowers are forget-me-nots which self-seed every year, and I have masses of them. So many, I pull up bushels of them after they are done blooming. There's always enough left to reseed plentifully. They make beautiful drifts of color for a few weeks every spring. Interestingly, I tried planting forget-me-not plants from a garden center, and they always died out. The ones I have now are descendants from plants from a friend's garden.
Shade Garden Inspiration - Show off your garden!
Hm, I planted them in too much sun here and they struggled after the heat came. Food for thought now. Looks great.
They always die completely after blooming and going to seed. The new seedlings form small plants that just kind of sit there until the next spring when they take off and bloom. If you would like some seed this summer, just let me know.
My garden is part-shade to deep shade. None of if gets more than 4 hours of sun. I actually timed it one day. Since I've fenced and the deer can no longer graze I've been able to garden for the first time in 17 years!
vsweet, I'm feeling your pain. Rabbits and gophers here are the devils.
I would love some seeds Hoosier, it is nice to have something that blooms so nice, even if short lived as long as something is always in bloom.
Sorry thank you btw.
For me it's chipmunks...and apparently my shiba inu puppy, too. It's going to be an interesting year. Last year the chippies ate the buds right off my toad lilies--they seem to love them. This year, I think the shiba will keep the chipmunks away, but I'm still figuring out how I'm going to keep the shiba out of the hostas and other perennials. He "pruned" my baby pieris shrub last week. :(
But how can you get angry at this sweet little guy?
lol I am so glad I am not alone. I love SI dogs, they look like little foxes. There is a breeder by my house and I just roll on their little All About Me personalities. The breeder said the moms don't even like their own pups as they get older because they want all the attention on them or want no attention on they themselves. I love the indifference in their personalities, because it is so funny to watch them, they remind me of my Shar Peis. Kind of cat like, I think.
No chipmunks here, no moles or voles, just gophers and I think they are useless creatures. For the life of me, I have not clue as to their value. I don't think I have any gopher snakes around, or they would be eating a feast.
My shiba clearly adores me, but he definitely does think he's the star of the show where the other dogs are concerned. And he's a total diva. Hellnzn, have you ever heard the patented "shiba scream?" When they get overly excited or take offense to something, shibas let out a war whoop that would make Xena, Warrior Princess green with envy. ;)
But I do love my shiba. He would definitely NOT be the dog for someone who likes very trainable, mellow, sweet dogs who fawn all over you. But I'm an experienced dog owner who likes independent dogs. Still, my shiba is the polar opposite of my 45 mph couch potato greyhounds.
Hello!
I drop in from time to time.I mostly hang out at the NEG.,Poppies,Garden Talk.
The shade gardens are really wonderful here.
My gardens are mostly 2 years old a few are 3 yearsold.
I confess I didnt read everylast thread,the pictures are so wonderful.
I always like to see what gardeners do with shade.
This is an album of my shade area.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jgentle4/ShadeGarden200902
ge1836
Love the way you attached your photos. Thanks for sharing so many wonderful pictures.
Pigweed12
(Bill)
Thanks Bill
Its a great way to share a lot of images without a mile of posts on one thread
Beautiful, ge! Your gardens look like they must keep you very busy. :)
Thanks,
I'm retired so I have time. Mornings from 6AM to 11 are for planting and fussing,this includes photos. Then I sit on the deck and gaze.
Hi JoAnn. I follow a lot of your posts, but I don't think I've seen pictures of your gardens before - just the bear! Pretty neat. I've got almost 100% shade, so I'm always on the look out for plant selections. I didn't recognize the pretty plant in picture #19 - helebores? columbine? What is it - I'd like to add it to my list for spring planting. Thanks, Terri
Ge, what's the plant in photo 28?
AH: Number 19 is a columbine, but I don't know what variety . . .
Good to know since my friend here just sent me seeds.
I loved the variety there.
Hi everyone.
3 19 is Columbine Black Barlow
The blue flower is Platycodon Sentimental Blue,Its a dwarf Bluestone perennials
I THOUGHT that black one was somehow related to Nora Barlow . . .
And Platycodon - thank you, I should have recognized the blossom shape. It's not a plant I'm terribly familiar with. That shade is mesmerizing.
It is intense and a long blooming plant even tho the blooms dont last long.They are replaced by new ones as they fade.
Good to know, thank you!
Oooo someone sent me Columbine Black Barlow seeds yee ha.
Hope they grow well for you. The flowers are so dramatic.
I would love to see more pictures of shade gardens for spring inspiration. Snow is slowly melting in Richmond and the hellabores are coming up.
Were byou hanging from the clothesline when you took that picture?
My spring shade is woodsy with ferns and Foam Flowers.
Some anemone Sylvestris and woods lilies.
foam flowers
I see the thumbnails arent loading again.
Taken from my bedroom window on the second floor. Hard to get pespective in my small yard. Love your pictures.
Great photos, everyone, and loved your album ge!
Clematis Candida in the shade:
Here are some from my BEDRM also
and another
I love white blooms in shade Thanks Pirl
Though shade plants often have beautiful blooms, I think foliage is just as important.
Two of my favorite types of plants for shade are grasses and hardy gingers.
Here's hakonechloa macra All Gold, which really brightens things up.
And here's an asarum. I lost the tag long ago.
I have many species and cultivars scattered around, so I'm not sure which one.
At any rate, here it is alongside a heuchera, columbine and a couple neighboring hostas.
(and a few weeds, I see...)
And another great shade foliage plant, syneilesis aconitifolia (shredded umbrella plant).
I have a few Hakonechloa and they do brighten up the shade - lovely photo. The gingers are well behaved here and blend in so nicely with other shade plants.
Love that shredded umbrella plant. How much shade will it tolerate?
As I get older I apreciate leafy plants so much more.
Flowers are nice but a great coleus or hosta are just as interesting.
Same here.