Comments on: Shade Garden Design Change

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 23:28:38 +0000

Debra, thanks, I’ve done a lot of experimenting to see what can grow well with our short season and extra cold winters. It is fun to see how the garden develops from season to season. I’ve grown to especially appreciate the plants with evergreen leaves that give good value in between winters. In Alberta, we have a short growing season, but a long planning season. :)

By: Debra

Debra — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:15:44 +0000

This has got to be one of the best sites I’ve seen. I’ve been looking for plants that grow well in Alberta and stumbled across your site – and I thank you very much!

What love and care you’ve shared with us. You give me inspiration to get out into my garden and lavish it with even a small measure of what you put into yours – well…. once the winter is over that is :)

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:59:08 +0000

Rosemarie, with your huge shade garden, you have room for lots of shade plants. It gives you a chance to experiment with many combinations. Many woodland plants look very sweet in large drifts too.

By: rosemarie

rosemarie — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:57:53 +0000

I really like seeing this because I have a huge front yard shade garden –

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:30:50 +0000

RobinL, planting narrow spaces is tricky, especially as you don’t want to block the walkway. Most of the the taller pants tend to get wider too, and you don’t want wet foliage brushing legs. If you want height, one of the skinniest tall ones is Digitalis (foxglove), which can get 1.5 m (3 to 5 feet) tall.
There are many medium sized shade perennials that would fit. Polemonium (Jacob’s Ladder) is a perennial that gets about 60 cm (2 feet) tall, but less wide. and has blue flowers. Many astilbe would work too, if it is moist, or you give them water. My tallest astilbe are close to 1 m (3 feet) in bloom, but not as wide.
In the next height down, there are many shade perennials with attractively coloured foliage and nice flowers. These might be safer for the bed, if you don’t want the walkway covered. The Heuchera (coral bells) come in a rainbow of leaf colours now, while Tiarella and Heucherella have pretty patterns on them. Brunnera (Siberian bugloss), Pulmonaria (lungwort), Epimedium (barrenwort), and Helleborus (lenten rose) all have pretty flowers, nice leaves,a variety of shapes, and don’t mind the shade. They are around 30 cm (1 foot) to 60 cm (2 feet) tall, and would fit the width. You could make a beautiful bed with just these. Many of the geraniums like Rozanne and Jolly Bee handle semi-shade fine. Many Campanula (bellflowers) would work too.
You could plant some early spring bulbs in between the perennials to get some early blooms there. Scilla (squills), Muscari (grape hyacinths), and Galanthus (snowdrops) are small bulbs that are fairly shade tolerant. These have smaller foliage that dies back relatively quickly too.
Have fun planning and planting your bed.

By: RobinL

RobinL — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:19:19 +0000

Now that’s what you call a before and after shot. Much better! Maybe you have some thoughts to help me out with a trouble spot. My front walkway has a space about 18 inches wide and ten feet wide between it and the garage, and it’s almost always shady. It’s so narrow that I can’t plant any shrubs that might jut out onto the sidewalk and block the way. So I have it planted with hostas, but they bore me silly. Sure wish I could think of some narrow plant with a little height, and yet likes the shade.

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:12:47 +0000

Sweet Bay, thanks. Most of the Campanula do seem to adapt well to this zone, and I find myself sneaking them in to many of the beds. I’ve had less success with palms. :)

By: Sweet Bay

Sweet Bay — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:32:51 +0000

I love what you’ve done with the garden next to the fence. It’s lovely! We can only dream about growing Campanulas like that here… yours are beautiful..

By: Northern Shade

Northern Shade — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 23:56:46 +0000

Camellia, thanks, I love blue and white flowers, and they suit the shadowy areas of the garden. They blend well with silver foliage too.

Sara, sometimes it’s easier to figure out a plant after you see it growing in your garden. It is hard to picture just how a mature plant will look from a catalogue description, seed packet, or plant label. Also, some plants can look quite different, depending on what plants are next to them, showing up their leaves, shape or flowers.

By: Sara

Sara — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:59:48 +0000

It´s really useful to have pictures that enables you to see the changes made, and what a change! Very inspiring! I tend to by plants, and plant them without much thought. After looking at them for a season or so, I often find a better place for them. Moving and dividing plants is a constantly ongoing process in my garden, hopefully thats the way I will find a design that reflects my personallity.