I have decided to share some of the plants which have done very well in my garden last spring and summer. It was very rainy and hot last year which contributed to the huge growth of many plants and the demise of others.
Variegated Solomon's Seal
Dicentra Spectablis
Astilbe Chinesis Pumila
Carex Ice Fountains
These are mostly plantings that do well in shade to part shade. I am going to be adding some shade perennials and move some of the hosta which fill in when the Bleeding Hearts die back.
I like the way Halcyon and August Moon look together but I have got way too many of them along the north side. It's time for some diversity.
They do look nice most of the summer, but I think I need a little color in here!
Hydrangea Endless Summer
This is one hydrangea that did not perform well in the heat. It had a great first bloom but then sort of shut down with a few new blooms off and on during the summer. The previous year it bloomed beautifully all summer. I am going to stick with them another year to see how they perform this summer, not great reports from many of the nurseries I frequent.
I really hope they do well this year because I love the colors!
Hydrangea Unique
Euonymus Wintercreeper
Heuchera Raspberry Ice
The euonymus still had scale last year after using an all season oil spray. I will have to try something else in the spring.
Cannot find the Latin name of this fern
All of the above plants will survive and do very well in part shade, the ferns and hostas even in deeper shade. They withstood the heat of last summer on the north side of my home.
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34 comments:
if this is your fertilizer Friday post...I am very excited!!! I didn't see any link but I am sure It is the right spot....I love it! that first little peek at the path on the side....oh how inviting....your whole space is inviting! thanks for sharing
You have made this section in your garden so soft and pretty. It has so many of my favorites in it too. Well maybe not the creeper. We have fallen out. LOL! I have never tried Solomon's Seal before but I do love the variegation's. I just adore your Astilbe. That is a gorgeous color and the blooms are so thick and tight together. I planted 4 new ones last fall so I am going to love seeing them this spring.
You had a wonderful show of spring flowers and summer plants last year. My wish for you is that this year's would be an even more fanstastic display to please you and delight us.
Rosie
So much of your garden is in my backyard too! So fantastic seeing your post! What zone are you in?
The bleeding hearts and hydragnea look wonderful!!
I completely understand you wanting to change some things in your garden, but everyone of these photos are gorgeous areas of your gardens...could your dinosaur Fern be a Angiopteris?
Tootsie, I love pathways in the garden even if they don't lead anywhere, it's the anticipation!
Eileen
I know, Lona, the creeper may be going, but I hate to think of pulling it out, big job!
Eileen
Hi Rose, thanks for visiting. I hope it is not quite as hot this summer, plants were having trouble surviving.
Eileen
Hi Fish Tail Cottage, thanks for visiting. I am in zone 5.
Eileen
Thanks Indoor Fountains, the bleeding heart really likes that part shady area.
Eileen
Thanks Darla, I will look up this fern and see if it fits. It is very prehistoric looking.
Eileen
My garden is very shaded so I understand you need for flowers, but I do like the different textures and leaf color you have. Beautiful!!
You are right, when you have deeper shade you need lots of texture and some color if you can find it.
Eileen
Is the fern Polystichum polyblepharum Eileen or perhaps one of the other polystichum varieties? Whatever it is, it's beautiful. I'm thinking the hydrangea that doesn't care to bloom is Endless Summer? Mine didn't have a single blossom this year... I'm suspecting too much shade has developed in that part of the gardens. I have friends who are having the same problem... Larry
Hi Eileen, I have some Salmon's Seal that is just getting started. My Mom warned me that it can be invasive- what is your experience with it? I have one two bleeding hearts and would love to add more. They stay green well into summer in my garden and they look so lovely in spring.I have never seen a dinosaur fern, but I bet it would fit nicely into my growing collection of ferns. Enjoy your weekend. Jennifer
Eileen, what a treat to see all the flowers and foliage in this post. I could almost smell the scent of warm rain from your pictures. You have everything so artistically planted.
We are in for more snow tonight, it's coming down steadily. So, thank you once again for the warm trip to your garden!
Nice to see some color, we've all been posting pictures of snow.
Love how you've designed that area Ellen. Great plants, and very picturesque setting. Love the path and the gate.
I enjoyed the tour of your shade gardens and right away a light bulb went on. I love the dicentra along the wall and it would be perfect for me to do this also along our north side.
A foot or so out from the wall the grass doesn't grow and I have enough 'Luxuriant' which seems to be agressive, to transfer.
Nice to pick up an idea from a fellow gardener.
Thanks Larry for the fern ID. I will look it up, but I had better write it down or I won't remember it.
Eileen
Hi Jennifer, the Solomon's Seal does multiply but I would not call it invasive. I divided it only once in seven years. This is the variegated one so maybe it doesn't spread as much. It is easy to pull out if you have to, but it looks good in every season.
Eileen
Hi Karen, we were up in Wisconsin the morning but not as far north as you are, and there is more snow than we have. It's hard to anticipate spring with all of the snow.
Eileen
Thanks Bonnie, more snow predicted on Monday.
Eileen
Hi Lavendar Cottage,
I have hosta in between that takes over when the Bleeding Heart starts to die down. Usually by July or August the Bleeding Heart has begun to yellow and I cut it back.
Eileen
I love shade loving plants and I've a few favourites among your planting scheme. Your Japanese painted lady fern looks huge - mine never reaches that size. I really like the heuchera and the chinese astillbe too. You certainly have some great contrasting shapes and textures in your shady border.
My Endless Summer hydrangeas are water hogs. They've grown a lot and survived our zone 7a heat and humidity but are constantly thirtsy. Your gardens are beautiful! I really like your purple astilbe.
Thanks Rosie, I have a had time with the shade plants even though I had an all shade garden at one time. I need to research more of the newer plants that will do well in shade.
Eileen
Hi TS,
I know what you mean about the water for Endless Summer. We had a summer of 90's and even with a watering system, I couldn't keep up with it.
Eileen
I loved seeing your spring and summer favorites. The path on the side of your house is so pretty. I love when people use side yards to garden in. My Endless summer doesn't like the heat either, and we barely had any last summer. I think I need to move mine this year.
Hi Catherine, I have such small areas to garden, I had to consider both side paths. One path is part shade and the other is very sunny and hot. I have a continual problem with plants burning up on the sunny side.
Eileen
Hi Catherine, I have such small areas to garden, I had to consider both side paths. One path is part shade and the other is very sunny and hot. I have a continual problem with plants burning up on the sunny side.
Eileen
Eileen I can't believe how many plants we both share ! I love my variegated Salomon's Seal .. and I also have lots of August Moon and Halcyon .. they just seem too right together : ) .. you have me stumped with this fern ! I have to find out more about it now .. I have a slight fern fetish myself .. hehehe
Joy : )
Hi Joy,
I did get a couple of names of that fern but I will probably forget them. It is so much easier to remember Dinosaur.
Eileen
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