What a wonderful area in which to grow shade loving plants. For color my mind went to coleus as well as to the large leaf begonias.

Oh, my, Annie, I've never seen a cane begonia. Aren't they lovely! Would look nice in my atrium in the brightest corner, but I think I'd have to dolly it inside for winter. The literature says they won't take a freeze. My problem is I don't have a lot of places with bright light for plants indoors in the winter. But I'll have to consider it, because they sure are nice and blooms would also be nice. One corner gets sun int he afternoon. :)

Why didn't I think of coleus, Rosalee? I knew you guys would have some good ideas for me! Coleus would look lovely through my dining room window. Maybe one of the red ones, perhaps with a Foxtail fern or two in the mix for shape variation. GREAT idea!!

Thanks for sharing. Your atrium is definitely a place where I'd want to sip lemonade in the shade.

Impatiens. They bloom non-stop from the end of winter until the beginning of the winter. You can let them die in the winter and wait for them to reseed or you can replace them as they are super cheap. Jumbo seeders (6 plants) can be found at $1.50 and they come in many colors and shapes.

Omar

It's pretty small, actually. About 6½' x 12' in size with the entry door down in the sunniest corner. So the plants will likely not leave room for a chair of any sort. But I do enjoy viewing them out my living room and dining room windows all day long. :) Only my orange kalancho is a carryover plant from last year. All the rest are new plants. We'll see how they do in there for me. :)

Omar, I would do impatiens as I like them a lot. But I'm kind of tired of them right now. I have them in several places in the shade spots in my outdoor gardens (red and white) and wanted something I don't have anywhere else for variety's sake. But they are, as you say, sure cheap enough, and a reliable plant. I've been to 3 nurseries this morning and have settled on foxtail fern and burgundy coleus that has lime leaf edges. They look lovely and should get just tall enough to be seen easily from inside yet not block valuable incoming light to a fairly dim dining room. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and I AM going to look into that Cane Begonia, Annie. :)

I love your "semi" atrium. I ditto the suggestion for cane begonias! They do require bright light to bloom heavily, however. I also love the Rex begonias and they are tough, tough, tough. They are grown for their foliage, rather than their blooms, but both of these types of begonias are very pretty container plants that will live for many years.

Molly

Oh, how pretty, and I so love being able to look out and see beauty.

Oh, yes, Molly, Rex begonias are a GREAT suggestion for this area. I haven't grown one of them in eons. And they certainly are pretty, with lots of varieties out there. Might grow a couple in medium-large pots. Thanks for that plant reminder! :)

I've moved my Purple Shamrock out to the atrium and hope it likes that environment.