Show us how your shade garden is doing

Agreeing with ge - I've cut 'Annabelle' flowers when they're that beautiful shade of green for indoors. I wait until they're starting to turn a little "papery" before cutting though. I've cut them too soon only to have them wilt indoors. And I have made a wreath with them as well. I of course kept the wreath way too long (over a year) and the little petals would fall off when disturbed. Have also used them as a big bouquet in a vase. Have even kept a few of the dry green petals as a color reference when shopping for room accessories. The flowers on my oak leaf 'Snow Queen' turn brown over time so I've never cut them.

Y es if they are cut too soon the moisture in the petals makes them mold

My friend has them in her kitchen on a ribbon hung from the ceiling.

They make a subtle boquet

Actually, that green is one of my favorite colors. Has that slightly blue undertone to it even though the flowers were originally white.

I used to have a pic of my wreath.I'll hunt

Wow thanks, I may try the wreath thing probably to late for this season though. They are starting to turn prettybrown. But look really neat on the shrub though. Ronna

Kow about a lite spray of Krylon in the color of your choice

Believe it or not, I did try to find some Krylon to match that color earlier this year. I'm a big fan of painting existing items to change decor. Anyway, the greens either had too much blue or too much yellow but I was probably being too picky.

We'll be out of town for 3 wks, so I took a last stroll through the garden.
Probably the last time to see anything blooming 'til early spring.
My rabdosia is still going strong.

Just one stem in a patch of afternoon sun.

There's a white version called 'tube socks'.
It's not as robust as the species in my garden.
This guy is looking a little bedraggled - would have looked fresher last week, I think.

Folks, I haven't had the time to post here this year, but I've really enjoyed seeing your photos and commentary. I agree with RCN that Edelweiss Perennials is a great source for Epimediums as well as many other shade loving plants. I placed two large orders with them this year. They have lots of unusual Geraniums, Hellebores, Corydalis and others. Great sized plants for the price and very well packed. Their shipping costs were reasonable too.

Weerobin Loving those pics

Speaking of Corydalis, has anyone ever had good luck with the beautiful blue ones? I had tried 'Blue Panda' and 'China Blue' several years ago with not much luck. I can grow C. lutea and ochroleuca but not the blue ones. Maybe too hot in the summer here and inhospitable amended clay soil?

I dont have that variety just the pink ones,bloomed first year this year, we'll see about next spring

My Plectranthus 'Mona Lavender' reminds me of the Rabdosia. Aren't they related? While mine isn't hardy, it's really putting on quite a show right now. Darn - might have to take a pic. I bought one plant last year and did a bunch of cuttings. So nice to have that color in the garden in fall.
ge - what variety is your pink Corydalis? I let my yellow and white ones self-seed in my lower garden but they're not really pesky.

I bought it from either Brent and Becks or Bluestone. Gimme a sec I'll check.

It was Brent &B the red one but it blooms dark pink

ge - Do you mean Brent and Becky's Bulbs or Beck's? I did see Corydalis consolida at Munchkin Nursery - pink and yellow. Sound like your's?

My 3 varieties of Blue Corydalis are all Ephemerals and were planted this spring. So far only "Blue Heron" has reemerged in this cooler weather..

Brent and Beckys.
I dont do business with Brecks

I didn't realize that Corydalis was an ephemeral. My yellow and white ones don't die back for summer so I thought they were all like that.

Cindy, Not all Corydalis are emphemeral. A number of the blue ones are.

My red ones dissapear in summer

Ge, I don't think I've seen any red ones. Do you have photos or the names of any?

let me check

Corydalis solida Geo. Parker

Thanks, Ge. That's a beauty. Did you get it from Garden Crossings?

Sorry no It came from Brent and Beckys Bulbs

That is beautiful! Does it go dormant in the summer for you, ge?

yep There are JI'S and DL's and platycodons planted with it.