Hi Amanda, I think any plant will do well as long it doesn't mind the shade and drier conditions from the trees blocking the rain. Ostrich ferns would looks great! Yes I also find they are very easy to grow. I haven't had much luck with blueberries, I think my soil has to be much more acidic.

From some discussions I've read, the soil under pine and spruce trees is not necessarily acidic. However I'm not sure if this is true or not as I'm having a hard time finding studies to back either side, see http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1634426/do-pine-trees-make-alkaline-soil-more-acidic-or-is-that-a-myth .

A soil test can help determine the pH of your soil. I felt like experimenting once and tried red cabbage juice to gauge pH but forgot to try pine/spruce needles, http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2132487/cheapest-way-to-test-soil-ph-using-red-cabbage?n=28.

Found this http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2948334/blueberries-for-zone-3?n=3

I've seen lots of low bush blueberries growing in the wild foothills west of Sundre, which is probably about zone 3.

Thanks! I know my parents tried to grow blue berries in Calgary once and it wasn't overly successful - but they also aren't the best gardeners. The soil test is probably a smart idea. I have seen fairly reasonable priced kits so it might be time to pick one up.

Apparently.. acid level is not all that much higher under pine trees from what I've been hearing.

The kits are apparently not all that accurate. The reading mostly just reflects the pH of your water. It's expensive, but if you have some cash a soil test in a soil lab will give you accurate pH as well as a number of other useful soil characteristics.

Bare spots under conifers are there in the first place because the conditions are too tough for even weeds to have come up on their own. So you may be in for a struggle.

Embothrium, do you know what that is caused by? It seems from other comments it's not pH, so maybe it is dryness?

Yes, plus the accumulation of needle drop and piling up over the years choking out other growth.

Watch this...

I actually love Stephen's videos under Alberta Urban Garden! Thanks, Konrad! Great information as well, Gardengal!! The area is just under the drip line actually not right under the tree, but I think it's probably wise not wasting too much time trying to plant right in that specific spot (especially since it didn't seem like my annuals liked it there), and maybe I'll just put in some nice mulch.

Most flowering annuals used in gardens want sun and moist fertile soils with a high organic content. Pines tend to be pioneer trees that come up naturally in barren places such as recently burnt over sites where soils can be quite infertile or low in organic matter - this varies with the species to some extent, of course, with white pines for instance tending to like "better" conditions - that may perhaps even be bothered if soils beneath them are improved to enable the growing of other plants.