If it were me, I'd plant more hostas. But that's not for everyone. The other things that seem to do well in my mostly shaded area under trees are Brunnera, Lily of the Valley, Heuchera, Columbines, Astillbe, daylily (fancy variety, not Stella D'oro), Ajuga, and variegated dogwood.

I'm not sure how Ninebark does in shade, but it gives our front garden structure year-round. Just don't get a big variety. Our smaller Weigela Minuet loses leaves, but the branches remain more than most weigelas.

If you settle on some Daylillies, I will be dividing several long-blooming varieties in late summer/early fall

Variety, bloom time and expected divisions available:

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Moonlit Masquerade, June 7 through September 30, 10-16

http://www.daylilydatabase.org/detail.php?id=7233&name=Moonlit%20Masquerade

https://www.flickr.com/photos/daves-garden/2691929071

http://garden.org/plants/view/15566/Daylily-Hemerocallis-Moonlit-Masquerade/

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Stephanie Returns, June 15-Sept 15, 6-8

https://homegardenartist.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/reblooming-daylily-beauty-stephanie-returns-hemerocallis/

http://garden.org/plants/view/66689/Daylily-Hemerocallis-Stephanie-Returns/

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Pandora's Box, June 15- September 15, 6-8

http://www.daylilydatabase.org/detail.php?id=33935&name=Pandora%27s%20Box

http://garden.org/plants/view/14157/Daylily-Hemerocallis-Pandoras-Box/

Thanks for the ideas.

Poppamomma, I have about 6 varieties of hosta and multiples of those. I have one older hosta that I was going to divide and replant. I'm guessing in 2 years the area pf about 15' x 8' should be solid hostas. The spireas that I took out really anchored the area, even though they were failing. It also gave delineation between the front side yard and the large side yard. The variegated dogwood could be a possibility.

Jerry, Ninebark is also a possibility. The neighbor has a few, that if she doesn't mind, I could get some starts from. They've been in for a few years and are reasonable in size. The little I read they like acid soil and sun. I'm looking for ideas and both these are contenders.

I have 3 wine and rose Weigela that are doing wonderful. Great blooms in the spring and branching stays year round. That seems odd that you would say your branches remain more than most weigelas. Since the flowers form on the previous years new growth, that would not be a very pretty weigela.

I'll pass on the daylilies for the area, but might consider adding to my daylily collection. I'm going to have to take a pic of the ones I have. Nothing as spectacular as yours, but nice. One of the daylilies I have said it was suppose to be a repeat bloomer but that's never happened. I suppose my dividing them all the time doesn't help that any. Great tomato garden btw!

I admit to being partial to ornamental grasses and similar plants. Have you considered planting some shade loving grasses or grass-like plants in the area?

Carex and sedge cultivars would do well in shade/partial shade and certainly would benefit from the extra water you probably already provide for your hostas. There are lots of true grasses that also do fine in a partial shade location - the clump forming grasses are not invasive. They are all relatively shallow rooted so the maple tree roots shouldn't be a bother to them (and vice versa) and they do flower, though possibly not the type of flowers you are wanting. Still, they often provide 4 seasons of interest, so might be something to consider.

Here are a couple of links, randomly chosen from a Google search, if you would like to check out just a few of your choices:

Carex

Ornamental grasses and sedges

(And Jerry, if your day lily divisions are not already all spoken for, I would love to have one or three! I really like day lilies but had some annual field grass take over both of of my main Iris and lily beds; finally got rid of the grasses but had to dig up a lot of the plants to do so and many of them didn't survive the forced spring transplant - Spring is not a good time to dig up Irises or lilies. :-( )

Holly

Have you looked at the dogwood shrubs that grow here? Some have red stems that stay all winter and the foliage is lovely, not sure about flowering but I'm sure it's not as pretty as the dogwood tree blooms. Most can take shade as long as it's not full shade.

So I did some more research about the dogwoods and I think that's what I'll put in. My next thing will be trying to find some at the nurseries in a gallon size or less. With the tree roots the way they are it very difficult to plant anything in a specific location like I would want these (the hostas I just poke around to find a spot between roots to put some new starts).

I'm going to keep an eye out for one in the neighborhood, and ask to take some clippings. Clippings would take much longer, but at least I could squeeze it in.

Thanks for everyone's brainstorming!

Just realized I left out ferns. I don't know why I didn't mention those before. But there are some beautiful hardy ferns. I have two Japanese painted ferns and one green hardy fern I got last year. Love them! They are so "woodland".

Also a hydrangea. Just be sure you get Annabelle. None of the others do much in Colorado.

The fern idea is a good one.

Holly,

I will offer up some daylily divisions here when I get around to it, probably the last week of august. I am also going to offer some to my neighborhood mail list. I took some pics, mostly in the mid-day sun so they are washed out a bit.

Stephanie Returns and Pandora's Box. Can you see why I need to divide? These have done well surrounded by rock and concrete. These are Stella-sized plants which is what I wanted for the small triangle area at the bottom of my drive.

Two pics of Moonlit Masquerade plant. I have several like this as they increase rapidly. It is a taller plant and the most consistent bloomer. Stout winner 2004. Sorry about the sideways pic - it flipped correctly in my program but not here.

Not dividing yet - South Seas and Joan Senior. South Seas is by far my wife's favorite. The washed out photo misses 80% of the colors present. A fairy tall plant.

Here is a link to a photo that better represents South Seas

http://www.arcadiandaylilies.com/SouthSeas.html

Barbara Mitchell may be my favorite. Another Stout winner. Slow increase, so i will not be dividing soon. Mid-height to low. Blooms about 6".

Jerry

I like ferns too. I remember tromping through the fern-filled woodlands of Vermont with great pleasure. Sadly, I haven't had much luck with growing them here but I keep trying! My button fern is the only one that has come back reliably year after year. All the others I have tried, including the Japanese painted fern, which is quite lovely, have died. :-( Glad you are having luck with them, popmama! Gives me hope....

You have some very nice lilies in your garden, Jerry. I certainly hope you have some spares this August.

Holly