Comments on: Shade Plants by Birdbath http://northernshade.ca/2009/08/27/shade-plants-by-birdbath/ Gardening in a cold northern climate, as the trees grow, the garden is gradually transforming to a more shady woodland garden Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:48:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Northern Shade http://northernshade.ca/2009/08/27/shade-plants-by-birdbath/#comment-2977 Northern Shade Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:45:33 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=3555#comment-2977 Hortoris, The birdbath helps make a better habitat for the birds, while I enjoy watching the wildlife. Hortoris, The birdbath helps make a better habitat for the birds, while I enjoy watching the wildlife.

]]> By: hortoris http://northernshade.ca/2009/08/27/shade-plants-by-birdbath/#comment-2976 hortoris Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:13:51 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=3555#comment-2976 British birds need feeding and protection and I like the idea of the ferns. British birds need feeding and protection and I like the idea of the ferns.

]]> By: Northern Shade http://northernshade.ca/2009/08/27/shade-plants-by-birdbath/#comment-2655 Northern Shade Sun, 20 Sep 2009 01:41:34 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=3555#comment-2655 Jayne, that could be the reason. It is shallower too. Your birdbath with each section having a different depth sounds great to satisfy each bird. This garden area looks good into the fall too. The ostrich fern starts to turn yellow, but the other plants are good right past the first frosts. Jayne, that could be the reason. It is shallower too. Your birdbath with each section having a different depth sounds great to satisfy each bird. This garden area looks good into the fall too. The ostrich fern starts to turn yellow, but the other plants are good right past the first frosts.

]]> By: Jayne http://northernshade.ca/2009/08/27/shade-plants-by-birdbath/#comment-2654 Jayne Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:00:34 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=3555#comment-2654 I think the birds would prefer your bath with the hexagonal shape because the depth is graduated. My grandad (English) had an old dustbin lid which the birds loved. I have a bath shaped like a flower and each petal has different depths - all the birds from Blue Jay to Chickadee love it! Your shade gardens look very atmospheric..I prefer dappled shade to sun any day! I think the birds would prefer your bath with the hexagonal shape because the depth is graduated. My grandad (English) had an old dustbin lid which the birds loved. I have a bath shaped like a flower and each petal has different depths – all the birds from Blue Jay to Chickadee love it! Your shade gardens look very atmospheric..I prefer dappled shade to sun any day!

]]> By: Northern Shade http://northernshade.ca/2009/08/27/shade-plants-by-birdbath/#comment-2626 Northern Shade Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:24:09 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=3555#comment-2626 Deborah, I miss the beautiful sugar and silver maples of Ontario. Mature maples give a wonderful atmosphere to a garden, and I bet you will soon be starting to see the fall changes in them. One of the plants that I grow right up against a maple trunk is Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian bugloss). There are many with beautifully patterned leaves, and they have lovely blue or white flowers in the spring. I have trouble with winter interest too. I admire gardens that have beautiful stone walls or arbours in the winter to give patterns to the snow. Mainly, I have some large conifers that get decorated in white, but mostly, I eagerly look forward to spring, and the start of gardening again. Deborah, I miss the beautiful sugar and silver maples of Ontario. Mature maples give a wonderful atmosphere to a garden, and I bet you will soon be starting to see the fall changes in them. One of the plants that I grow right up against a maple trunk is Brunnera macrophylla (Siberian bugloss). There are many with beautifully patterned leaves, and they have lovely blue or white flowers in the spring.

I have trouble with winter interest too. I admire gardens that have beautiful stone walls or arbours in the winter to give patterns to the snow. Mainly, I have some large conifers that get decorated in white, but mostly, I eagerly look forward to spring, and the start of gardening again.

]]> By: Deborah at Kilbourne Grove http://northernshade.ca/2009/08/27/shade-plants-by-birdbath/#comment-2625 Deborah at Kilbourne Grove Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:19:55 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=3555#comment-2625 Hi, I am always looking for beautiful plants to grow in shade, and you have got them. My garden backs on to the Niagara Escarpment, and it is also buried under snow for 4 to 5 months of the year. I laugh at those English gardeners who say to plant for winter interest, when the snow is up to your waist, it is hard to see anything. But, I am trying. I have quite a few, large old sugar and silver maples that I am trying to garden under. I got some great ideas from your site. Thank you. Hi, I am always looking for beautiful plants to grow in shade, and you have got them. My garden backs on to the Niagara Escarpment, and it is also buried under snow for 4 to 5 months of the year. I laugh at those English gardeners who say to plant for winter interest, when the snow is up to your waist, it is hard to see anything. But, I am trying. I have quite a few, large old sugar and silver maples that I am trying to garden under. I got some great ideas from your site. Thank you.

]]> By: Northern Shade http://northernshade.ca/2009/08/27/shade-plants-by-birdbath/#comment-2624 Northern Shade Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:38:33 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=3555#comment-2624 Shady Gardener, I like to work in this area, under the willow, because it's cool and peaceful. There usually isn't much weeding to be done here either. I noticed in the photos of your new garden stairs how sloped your land was, sorry to hear about the heavy rainfall rearranging your garden. It sounds like you will have a new project for the fall. Shady Gardener, I like to work in this area, under the willow, because it’s cool and peaceful. There usually isn’t much weeding to be done here either.

I noticed in the photos of your new garden stairs how sloped your land was, sorry to hear about the heavy rainfall rearranging your garden. It sounds like you will have a new project for the fall.

]]> By: Shady Gardener http://northernshade.ca/2009/08/27/shade-plants-by-birdbath/#comment-2623 Shady Gardener Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:03:31 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=3555#comment-2623 Hi Northern Shade! This is such a relaxing sight. I think I should come sit in your garden for awhile! My Woodland Walk is okay, but it went through a 5" rainfall last week. Because we're on a severe downslope, there was a "river running through it" (quite literally!). At any rate, it looks as though I need to add another layer to the little wall at the back and restore the dirt and mulch to their rightful places. I'll get to it, but I think I might take a day off. ;-) Hi Northern Shade! This is such a relaxing sight. I think I should come sit in your garden for awhile! My Woodland Walk is okay, but it went through a 5″ rainfall last week. Because we’re on a severe downslope, there was a “river running through it” (quite literally!). At any rate, it looks as though I need to add another layer to the little wall at the back and restore the dirt and mulch to their rightful places. I’ll get to it, but I think I might take a day off. ;-)

]]> By: Northern Shade http://northernshade.ca/2009/08/27/shade-plants-by-birdbath/#comment-2619 Northern Shade Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:29:10 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=3555#comment-2619 MNGarden, maybe I need some running water for the birds too. The one birdbath has a recess for a pump, so I could put a spitter in there. Today I was watching a young robin and 2 adults looking around the open ground. It must be their second brood. Renate, the flowering plants by the woodland birdbath bloom in spring, and then the foliage is on show for the rest of the season. I like the look of dappled light on the plants under the willow there. MNGarden, maybe I need some running water for the birds too. The one birdbath has a recess for a pump, so I could put a spitter in there. Today I was watching a young robin and 2 adults looking around the open ground. It must be their second brood.

Renate, the flowering plants by the woodland birdbath bloom in spring, and then the foliage is on show for the rest of the season. I like the look of dappled light on the plants under the willow there.

]]> By: Renate http://northernshade.ca/2009/08/27/shade-plants-by-birdbath/#comment-2618 Renate Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:15:59 +0000 http://northernshade.ca/?p=3555#comment-2618 Love the plant combinations! It's really not so easy to have a shade planting that doesn't look monochromatic, and you've managed the trick! Love the plant combinations! It’s really not so easy to have a shade planting that doesn’t look monochromatic, and you’ve managed the trick!

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