Metamorphosis is not only something that occurs with caterpillars into butterflies, it occurs in the garden all the time. I began with an all sun garden under my small Pagoda Dogwood tree tucked into the back corner of my yard. It's leaf coverage was so small that I could grow Veronica Sunny Border Blue, Cone flowers and Phlox.
Well, over the last few years this lovely dogwood, even though damaged by the Cicadas a couple of years ago, has branched out considerably. It is no longer a sun garden back there but has morphed into a shade garden. I really did not want it to be a shade garden, but it spoke loudly as to what it would have growing under it's feet. I finally gave in and moved the sun loving plants and began to redesign a whole new garden.
I planted Thunder Bolt Hosta, Autumn Fern, Ghost Fern and Maggie Daley (named after our mayor's wife) Astilbe last summer and fall. I also transplanted a large Rhodie back there from the front of the house. They have all survived beautifully so I guess it was a good move to go with the shade.
I don't know why I fought this change as I love shade plants and miss so many of them from my other homes. I guess I am kind of gun shy because in my old old home I had nothing but shade, couldn't grow anything that required sun. My tomatoes grew to ten feet tall without tomatoes!
