I use stakes made of branches for "leaners". They blend in because they're natural, and hardly appear at all. Learn to love impatiens and begonias. Check into mimulus (monkey flower). And astilbes and cimifugas and eupatoriums... And early spring bulbs that will get the spring sun, like erythroniums. And Iris cristata

My shade isn't as deep as yours, but you can look anyway. I'm only on the second year, so it's still a work in progress.

And you can check my blog too, if that turns your crank.

Janet's Garden

Here is a link that might be useful: Check the back yard, that's where it's shady

janet, thanks for your suggestions. the photos of your garden are lovely! i especially like the idea od propping the leaners with branches...i'll be doing that tomorrow.

happy gardening!
susan in kentucky

First of all, I know this is hard, but you need to adjust your thinking. You simply can't have that cottage garden in the shade. But I hope you will find that gardening in the shade is very rewarding. Instead of constant showy blooms you get peace and serentity and a more natural look. It sounds like you have some sun, so look for plants labeled for full sun AND part sun/shade. Daylilies and asiatic are short flowering but do well in part sun. For right under the tree you have to be careful. It's not just shade, it's DRY shade. You can't water to correct for this easily. The trees roots will take it all, especially maples. So you need to plant things that can take dry shade. Epimediums and pulmonaria come to mind. DAylilies might perform here, but not too close to the base of the tree. They do need light. Hostas may also do OK here, but they won't thrive close to the tree base and not in hot afternoon sun. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING about plants under trees is to water the entire area DEEPLY but less frequently. The biggest mistake I made when I started shade gardening was to just water the plants. I watered them all the time but they just petered out. Why? I killed them by babying them. By just watering them I drew the tree roots to their spot and they overcompeted. If you water the entire area less often but DEEPLY, then the tree roots (and your plants) are drawn down instead of to where your plants are and where there is naturally more water. If you fertilize do it over the entire area too. Better to water for an hour once a week than 15 minutes a day. And, of course it's best to do it in the early morning. Thanks for listening. -Ais.

impatients, impatients and more impatients.
plant spring bulbs(the earlier blooming ones are best)
learn to enjoy the peacefulness of green. add garden art for color. use containers to plant annuals in.
some perennials to look for are: sweetwoodruff, deadnettle,
columbine, day lilies, hostas (plantaginas have fragrant white flowers), violets and violas, woodland flowers, bleeding hearts. you could go for a green and white theme

have fun and enjoy the cool and peace of shade.
diggerb

thanks for the tips folks! and i know you're all right: i can't have the typical cottage garden i've previously had in my sunnier gardens. i really *do* love the peacefulness and serenity of my shady garden, i've just got to figure out how to do it right.

i have all the perennials diggerb listed except deadnettle, so i guess i'm off to a better start than i'd thought! but i've definitely been watering wrong; i'll change my ways immediately.

thanks again!
susan in kentucky

I try to have flowers in my shade garden from Feb. thru Oct. too and am successful, although not as garishly so as my cottage garden in mostly sun.

Hellebores, crocuses, snowdrops, wood hyacinths, daffodils and tulips bloom before the deciduous trees leaf out. Azaleas have nice blooms and add some structure in the winter as well. Lilies, daylilies, and some clematis like Jackmanii will do well, although not as much as in brighter sun. Bleeding hearts and astilbes and hostas and wood poppies, of course. Lamium and sweet woodruff and lily-of-the-valley for groundcovers. Heuchera and tiarella have pretty flowers, although small, and lovely leaves. Toadlilies bloom in fall - mine get eaten to death by groundhogs though. :( Climbing hydrangea if you need a vine for shade, although it takes a few years to get going.

My newest shade favorites are hydrangeas, which have that big, blowsy, cottage garden look. They need A LOT of watering though, especially with tree roots nearby. The oakleaf hydrangeas have smaller flowers but are much more drought resistant. I'm also loving foxglove (the yellow variety is more perennial than some other types). And hardy geraniums (cranesbill) do well - 'Tiny Monster' blooms heavily all summer and spreads well, but all types do well in shade.

Tradescantia 'Sweet Kate' and 'Concord Grape' bloom most of the summer but the foliage looks like crabgrass! Worth it for the blooms, though.

If you want to experiment, I have had modest success in spots that get a bit more sun with a Blaze climbing rose, moonbeam coreopsis, lambs' ear, lavender, and oriental poppy.

Dang, I have a lot of plants crammed into that border!!!

If you need more color, how about a birdbath and some bright mosaic stepping stones?

wow, watergal! your garden sounds lovely! would you consider posting pictures? i'd love to see it!

susan in kentucky

Hi Susan!

{{gwi:1254684}} is a Cottage Garden favorite that performs well in dappled shade:) It is tall, with delicate white/pink flowers. Mine blooms for at least four weeks! The blooms have a pleasant musky-sweet fragrance. The plant gently sways in the breeze and sparkles in the shade! Definitely one of my favorite shade plants:)

Not a Cottage Garden fav, but definitely lending sparkle... {{gwi:1254685}} has purple tinged leaves and white bottle-brush flowers. To my nose, it has a pleasant fragrance. More info on ÂBlack NegligeeÂ

Regards,
PoseyPlanter

Hi, I'm rather new to shade gardening too, but I have some pictures to share from my first 2 seasons:

Shade Garden
Shady Shrub Border

Many thanks to all of you.You have solved my dilema.I am in the process of creating my "peace park". I will keep it simple and serene, a place where you "whisper". I wanted to put every color of every flower I could in there, picturing how pretty it would look when it was finished (at least 5 years from now, hopefully never).Aisgecko, you convinced me.As beautiful as color is, less is more. A beach is more beautiful when the only colors are from the sand, the water and the sky than when it is crowded with people in multi colored bathing suits and umbrellas.Too much color deletes the serenity. Peace.