Hellebore, ferns, epimediums epimediums, brunnera, pulmonaria

Second vote for pulmonaria!

no pix.. its not happening ... lol

How raised is raised? You might have to count height of any plants into equation. I only done minies in raised beds.

so i guess it didnt happen.. since there still arent any pix

I took advantage of a local nursery's 1/3 and 1/2 off sale to buy some more heucheras, a pulmonaria, a brunnera, several different painted ferns, and some sun plants for the planned garden beds in the front yard. I'm waiting for the guy my contractor found to do the digging to do the digging of a continuation of the French drain in the backyard before we can put the assembled raised beds on top and the other ones. Also, need the shipment of gravel by my contractor to finish the French drain and the garden beds in front. I have already asssembled the plants necessary for the planned front yard garden beds, just need their beds dug out. I was just diagnosed with a heart murmur, so I am taking it easy until I get the stress test and other test the doctor ordered.

The fence came out beautiful and I've already gotten a lot of compliments on it. My contractor said he will recommend the fence company to other clients. Now I have to rid the yard of rabbits so I can install my DigDefense panels. No sense in planting a bunch of beautiful plants, only to have them become a bunny buffet.

I have a single Jack Frost brunnera that has exploded over the years and has taken over that bed--had to rip out tons last year since I couldn't give it to anyone. I also grow hellebores and they too can be overwhelming--I dug out tons and gave them to friends and family. They seem to take a bit longer to "explode" with new growth. My local deer population won't touch my hellebores and epimediums for obvious reasons. I love the look of astilbes in one of my hosta beds.

I always seem to have a problem with astilbes….. shade, sun, doesn’t matter. I have a few and they have just dwindled.
debra

Toad lilies / tricyrtis are great. Beautiful, but small, orchid-like flowers. They also flower fairly late, after many flowering plants are done. Other good options not already mentioned include aspidistra / cast iron plants, rohdea japonica, fatsia, fatshedera, chelone, farfugium (esp. tractor seat plants), mahonia, carex, and acanthus. Plants that I have always had trouble with, but some people swear by, include astilbe, japanese hakonechloa grass, and heuchera.

I like toad lilies too and they do bloom later in the season. My Astilbe are next to Brother Stefan in a bed that gets early afternoon sun. I always try to get large plants because they establish better than a small pot does in my yard. I have played around with heuchera in various spots and the only spot that works is a protected area between my patio and the house. They didn't even die back in the winter and it was below 0 here. Everywhere else they just die.