We love pics. Our season ended very quickly this year and the trees are now bare, after giving colour for less than a week. So disappointing when we are normally ablaze for weeks. Pics please!

Will do. Waiting for my huband,nephew & sister-in-law at a restaurant for late lunch. Go out when I get home.

Stephanie, I'm trying to plan for lower maintenance through the years. My DH and I are in our late 50s, and I've already been around the block with the perennials that HAVE to be divided every 2-3 years or they start to look ratty. So I don't mind a little dividing or rearranging sometimes, but I don't want a whole bunch of stuff like that to do all the time going forward. I have made one mistake in my current yard - and that's Autumn Joy sedum (in a sunny spot). It was lovely for a couple of years, but this year it got too tall and floppy and just seems to be screaming: divide me! I haven't decided yet if I will divide it in the spring, or give it the heave-ho.....

I have also planted some ajuga in a few places, variety: Black Scallop. I bought it on the recommendation of another gardener who said it was a well-behaved ground cover, and so far I agree. I've had it 3+ years, and It seems pretty easy to control, and not very agressive - grows well, but expands slowly, and when I've wanted to transplant a piece of it, it was super easy.

I'd like to plant some ferns, but I want to be careful and not get the aggressive varieties of them. I'm thinking Autumn Fern and Japanese Painted. I love peonies and have a few varieties - but of course they need quite a bit of sun. I also like hardy geraniums - I only have 1 variety right now (Max Frei), but I'd like to get a couple more, especially some blue - like Rozanne - and incorporate those. My Max Frei occasionally needs dividing, but it's also very easy. I love the look of Aruncus (Goat's Beard) and I'd like to get one of the smaller varieties of those for background. And there are some varieties of ligularia that might work. Also Lady's Mantle, and Hakone Grass.

I've seen lots of lovely photos of Corydalis Lutea, but I don't know that I've ever seen it for sale locally. Same with Canadian Wild Ginger. And I also don't know too much about their habits.

Also for sunnier spots - I've never had any Oriental or Asian Lilies, but I might like to try them. But I'm not sure if they require a lot of dividing or not. I think daylilies are great, but again - the dividing! We'll see, I might get a couple of them.

So - that's some of what I'm thinking (along with hostas).... I don't want to sound like I'm negative about the garden work, because I really love doing it. I'm just trying to be realistic about what I/we will want to be doing down the road.... And I like to keep things looking as nice as possible.

This means I'm going to have to be realistic about the eventual sizes of the hostas I plant as well! I sure don't want to be trying to pry some huge Sum & Substance out of the ground and then try to wrestle it back into the ground somewhere else.

I totally agree with your hosta choices btw... And June is at the very top of my list. I think I'll get a few and plant some in sun and some in shade. Oh, I have a pretty good list of hostas that I'd like. I only have a 1/4 acre suburban lot though, so I'll have to be pretty "choicy".

I should say... I agree with the others' comments about boxwood, etc. They look beautiful with hostas. This past summer was my "summer of shrubs" when I was trying to get as much of the 'bones' or background planted as possible. I put in some hydrangeas, fothergilla, winterberry holly, deutzia, viburnum, spirea, boxwood, yews. We've been in the house about 4 1/2 years, so I'm still trying to get it organized the way I want it...

Also - for companions - I have a few epimediums. They're quite nice, and very well behaved. And this summer I had some plumbago - not the fluffy looking one, but Ceratostigma plumbaginoides - in a pot, and then I saw it growing elsewhere in the ground and loved it, so I put mine in the ground too. Lovely blue flowers all season. Sun or part shade.

Duplicate photo. Squared it up. Tapped on vertical shot by mistake. Then added square version.

What a wonderful property you have. The shrubs and trees you added really suit their surroundings. The colour is still so good and very well captured in these pics. Thank you for posting them!

Brunneras are great companions to hostas. I have so many plants that I enjoy combining with hostas starting with A there are Astilboides tabularis, various Actaea, Astrantia...LOL! Thanks again for posting those great pics. Really looking forward to spring pics too!

Thanks for the compliment!! There r lots of plants dying back & hidden by MILLIONS of leaves. Look forward to sharing pics when u can actually see the plants - haha

Nicholsworth - have you let your Brunnera self-seed? I have to cut back the seed heads to prevent too many seedlings from taking over the garden. I have a few different varieties and seedlings are variable.

Here is a fun one from this season. When the first few leaves were coming up it couldn't decide whether it wanted to be variegated or solid green.

and my favourite Brunnera is Diane's Gold that does seem to come true from seed:

ConnieMay - this place is so large and heavily planted (thanks to me) that everything self seeds - haha! The brunnera is new and I haven't noticed any volunteers yet but I would welcome them and never pull them. (who am I kidding - here even weeds are safe) Always going to weed later. Love your plain with a hint of variegation. Couple of my neighbors have Jack Frost. Hope to get more brunneras.

Thanks for writing about the Lamium and Brunnera, I saw them last year in a garden and wanted to get some but didn't know the name.

Nice discussion going on Thanks1

I like perennials when they stay put and do not takeover the yard. Therefore I like hostas and mulch. Brunnera, epimediums and lamium 'Herman's Pride' are nicely behaved. But be very careful with other lamiums and Pachysandra. I had one lamium with nice red flowers which went everywhere and got 1 ft high, running over small hostas. Pachysandra will have a 6 inch deep root mass and can only be controlled with a sharp spade. Others I have banned from my yard, escaped through the fence and i battle back with Roundup.

bernd - I don't plan to buy any more groundcover. Pachysandra, periwinkle & some ivy was here. Big patches. I've ripped out some of all 3. I did buy the lamium. It's not bothering anything at the moment. Not by any perennials. Neighbor gave me sweet woodruff. Also in back not in the way. Hasn't gone crazy like lamium. I have & love epimedium too. Have it in front & back. Did u see the pics of my backyard on this thread? Can see some of my J maples. I'm the one with the flat hosta.

I noticed that houzz is replacing an answer in progress with a previous posting of mine when I look into Google for a name, i.e..

Nichols, yes, I noticed your maples, you are so fortunate to have such large ones in zone 5. In my zone 5 only one well growing one survives. Other perennials I have luck with are primulas and bloodroots, and ferns of various mature sizes.

bernd - very happy that I can grow Jmaples. One was here and I bought every attractive reasonably priced one that I saw for years. (14 maybe? should count I would like to know) Hostas are the backbone of my garden. Have ferns also - Autumn ferns my favorite. Also wild ginger, jack in the pulpit, celandine poppy, and corydalis. Will research primulas and bloodroot. Thanks for suggestions.

I must be the only one who's had trouble with lamium. I had two kinds that came back for many years until they didn't. One winter the snow cover wasn't reliable, and the lamium disappeared. Luckily, the ajuga came back.

I'm impressed with how big my Jack Frost Brunneras have gotten. Also like Looking Glass very much. They both look good with hostas.

I like your J. Maples. I don't see many around here, but once in a while I see a nice one placed just right in someone's yard.

That's great you were able to rip out your ivy. Mine was no problem for eleven years, but now it's growing where I want to plant more hostas. Let's see, do I want ivy or Hostas?

Hostas WiN! (of course, no contest:)

sandyslopes - sorry about your lamium...sometimes plants go for no apparent reason. I hesitate to rip plants out (even when I need to) but after I do it - looks great & wonder why I didn't do it sooner. Definitely want more brunnera. Jack Frost has pretty foliage. Reminds me a little of my lamium.(why I bought it)

Sandyslopes - I've also lost Lamium (white Nancy). I can't recall whether it was a drainage issue (ice & water sitting there too long in spring) or snow cover issue. I was surprised at the loss because I had grown it for years.

Thank you all - this is great! Nicholsworth, you have a beautiful property! Love the japanese maples and your other plantings - it's just gorgeous.

Windymess, I'm going for low maintenance too. I've had back issues in the past and don't want a situation where things get completely out of hand if I am unable to tend to it for a little patch.

I pulled out ivy by the fistfuls when I was clearing off the bank for this garden and sure don't want to plant something that is equal to or worse than it was. Herman's Pride, brunnera and epimediums are now at the top of my list and I'm sure more ferns will make their way in as well. I Love japanese painted ferns and want more of those.

Thanks for the compliment stephanie. And don't forget - you can't have too many hostas!

Sedum 'Autumn Joy' here since 1995, never divided, still just fine. We whack it way waaay back every few years, fwiw (note: zone 4 here)

nicholsworth - I finally got the chance to look at your photos on a computer monitor instead of my phone... It's a lovely woodland garden!!! I love Japanese Maples too, but I only have 1 because, well, it's Kansas and trees sometimes have a hard time here. I think the JM's usually need a somewhat protected location. If I can squeeze one more in sometime I will!

Stephanie, when you get your new bed going in the spring I hope you'll share some of your choices!

HH - when you say you whacked your Autumn Joy back -- do you mean you cut out part of it? I guess I could do that instead of digging it all up and dividing. I've done that with the geraniums before - just stuck a shovel in and lifted out a portion for transplant.

windymess - thanks so much! Here's a couple of front pics I just took. (Husband has cars out to sweep garage so I only got the right side.) 2 maples in front. 1 by the driveway & 1 in the middle but hard to see. Sort of blocked by a tree. Burning bushes by the street.

Technical difficulties again. I crop but pics go on distorted. Need more practice. Think it clears up if u tap it.

Windy, whacking, for me, means pruning aggressively ;-)

nicholsworth - beautiful... and I can see some of your hostas, going down for the season. You said you have corydalis - what do you think of it? Does it spread aggressively or more slowly/controlled?

HH - I'll give it a "whack"! LOL...

Stephanie I am very fond of ferns too and have many natives since I live surrounded by forest but the Painted ferns are among my favorites. Adiantum pedatum - the Maidenhair fern and Osmunda regalis - Royal fern are fabulous as well. The Maidenhair is possibly tops on my list. You can grow so many more in your climate.

Nichols - Like bernd I enjoy Primula and Bloodroot. Love our native wild ginger and Jack in the Pulpit. European ginger is wonderful too.

Hepatica and various Trilliums make great companions. I don't think anyone has mentioned Solomons Seal - great plants. I grow a few and they are legendary for adapting to dry shade with tree root competition. Geranium macrorrhizum can handle those tough conditions under trees as well.

Geranium phaeum is very nice. I grow 'Samobor' and 'Shadow Light'. They will seed about if not deadheaded promptly. l like the flowers but the foliage is very nice.

windymess - bought 1 pot of corydalis. Planted on east side of my front path. It's popped up 4 - 5 spots. Even IN the path. Have hellebores in the path too. Husband thinks it's stupid but I like it! Pics of original plant & the one in the path. Little ratty now but cute during the growing season.

peren.all - I have very few solomon's seal. My neighbor has a nice grouping & mine probably came from her - didn't plant it. They are plain green. U have ferns that I don't. Would love maidenhair. Didn't plant the "woodland" plants. Doubt if the previous owner did either. Gifts from mother nature. Anyone have lady's mantle? Like it but u need to cut off the ratty leaves.

Yes I grow Lady's Mantle. Love it.

I like all the Solomon's Seal but if I could only have one I would go for the variegated.

A different neighbor has the variegated & I like it. Have a mental list of plants to add here but u know how it is. Takes time & money!

It's time to buy and plant more spring flowering bulbs, Lowe's has them 50% off, bought 30 crocusses for around $3. 30 is little, but I have a lot of bulbs already and always find space for 6 groups of 5 between hostas.

Sounds like a good plan having plants bloom in succession.

bernd:

Yeah, got some bulbs, then i went back and got some more. That CHAD thing …. ya know?

Nichols, I once bought a mini Lady's Mantle...such a cute little perfect plant!... unfortunately it didn't survive the winter. I should try again.

Alchemilla Mollis is beautiful (especially after it rains as the hairs on the leaves capture and hold the drops) in front of peonies...and hostas! ;-)

josephines - lady's mantles look amazing with the water droplets on their leaves. Mine pop up here & there especially by rocks. Dug out an old pic. Look at the scalloped leaves that some animal chewed! See the normal leave below it? This is a pic of a pic but if u enlarge u can see it. Was so surprised when I saw it.

lol! The bugs were creative making you a snowflake.

If anyone wants a large plant to go with really large hostas - Rodgersia is a favorite.

This is Rodgersia pinnata 'Elegans'.

Snowflake - what a great description. I would LOVE a rodgersia. I haven't seen one while bargain plant hunting. Need to go to a nursery.

I'm a fan of the astilbes - many colors and heights - shallow roots making it easy to divide or remove.

I'm expanding my garden in the rear next year. It has taken forever to remove the dreaded evasive liriope which reseeded from a neighboring garden.

Where have you been, JO? No top gun hosta this year?

nicholsworth55 - bucolic property you have there.

That's what I was going to say too! Lol. Artistic flair in those chew bugs!

DD, a friend w throat cancer has me preoccupied - doing a lot of l.d. driving... but I will definitely be doing the Top Gun again, hopefully next week if not before. Does that mean you are ready? :D). Love it!

is that the ever-gorgeous Awakening Angel to left of Dancing Queen?

DelawareDonna - thanks for the compliment - you have a "bucolic property" also! The photo of the hostas & astilbes is gorgeous. I planted some astilbes (visions in red) that were clearance plants. Even with a LOT of water they looked sad. Checked gardenweb & read that many others had the same experience. Most people said they came back. Waiting and hoping...

Yes indeedy, JO. AA is described as pie-shaped, and by the end of the summer, it lives up to its name.

Sorry to hear about your friend. Sounds like your a very caring and devoted friend. I'm sure you are a great comfort to him/her. Both of my husbands succumbed to that dreaded disease.

I'll have to cull my photos to see if I have a top gun candidate.

I have several bugbanes, but the cimicifuga racemosa 'Brunette' is the best, look it up on Google. It is statuesque with 4 ft flower stalks, It blooms well ahead of first frost, whereas the standard bugbane blooms during frost here in zone 5 which is not so good. Divisions of bugbanes can easily be transplanted, which I did. Another large perennial I can't remember the name of has much bigger white fluffy flower stalks, have several as background. HH posted pictures of those too here.

Yes
"Brunette' is stunning. I grow others but perhaps because I have
had it the longest I love it the most. They are extremely fragrant
too and the pollinators go crazy for them. The name has been changed
to Actaea.

I am not sure if this is the one you are referring to bernd but Astilboides tabularis used to be called Rodgersia tabularis. It is terrific. Here is a young one with our adult daughters hand for reference.

More great ideas and lovely flowers! Thank you all!

I found the bulbs on sale at Lowe's too. Got 50 crocus and 30 daffodils. I'm waiting to see how many actually come up in the spring before I buy more. I have lots of squirrels and disturbed ground is an open invitation to see what is on the buffet.

I have three astilbe but I may have to move them next year. The back gets more sun than I originally thought and they got crispy quick even with watering. Are the Rodgersia as water loving as astilbe?

Bernd - I have been looking for the "brunette" for awhile but haven't seen any around here. I may have to break down and order online if I do decide to go with it. I've also thought about Goats beard, Aralia Sun King and maybe an obelisk with clematis.

So many plants, so little room ;)

Yes Rodgersia are water lovers like Astilbe but if you add compost to your soil it will help immensely. I make my own or buy mushroom compost.

If space is an issue Aruncus aethusifolia is only a little over a foot tall and wide whereas A. dioicus is approx. 5' tall and wide.

Aruncus 'Horatio' is really nice at that happy medium. It is roughly 2 1/2' tall and wide with red stems.

Here is A. 'Horatio'. It love them all but this one really is special!

Yes, Aruncus, goats beard, that's the one I also have. I was able to transplant divisions of those also easily. Aruncus though get rather large, so I deadhead them severely after flowering or they would take over hostas.

Horatio is lovely. So far that's the prettiest Aruncus I've seen.

The dwarf aruncus is really pretty amongst the hostas. I bought three more last year. I also have the standard size whose name escapes me at the moment...something "Ivory", lol. Foliage is gorgeous with substantial hosta leaves - beautiful textures. Wish spring was here!

Oh, Donna, you truly are a sweetheart... and have had more than your share too.