RE: changing conditions in garden beds

Hi Elle,

Yes, I was certain others had experienced what I am experiencing.  Like you, of course I have noticed nature is not stagnant, but it seemed like that bed must be getting enough sun if roses are surviving and blooming fine.  It is interesting, though, that perennials must need even more sun (certainly lavender, yarrow, echinacea -- things I *used* to have in that bed).  

I could probably go with hosta, etc., etc., but I was hoping to hear about some wonderful perennials that tolerate part shade. ;-)

-----Original Message-----
From: elle [p*@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2002 1:02 PM
To: perennials@hort.net
Subject: changing conditions in garden beds


Susan I don't have a solution but have a similar
situation....I finally realized that nature is not
stagnant. (duh)..what was sunny for me 20 years ago,
where I first planted roses, is now shady and full of
hostas ferns and dicentra. There are 3 climbing blaze
roses that get sun thru the lattice fence they grow on
but their base is entirely covered with fern.  I have
several helleborus that I moved from a too sunny spot
early this year and a couple of small hydrangea in a
corner that gets some filtered sun.  The one rose left
in the garden in covered by a huge hosta except for  a
single  cane 6' high with one miserable Tropicanna
rose at the top of this cane...think it's trying to
tell me something (like Move Me!!)?  Next year we
divide the Hosta from Hell and move the rose <g>
I realized a few years ago that the white birch tree
which was small when we moved in 25 years ago had
grown really tall and big, along with a Douglas fir
from Christmas 23 years ago and a couple of spruce
slips that were being given away 17 years ago when I
took the kids to a Forestry Center exhibit and were
shading the entire front yard. 
 None of these things were planted with
forethought-The Christmas tree and spruce slips ended
up under the electrical lines and are trimmed by a
contractor every couple of years-large chunks are
taken out of the tree branches-sorta like Godzilla
taking bites of the tree.. and one of the spruces is
topped and looks so strange...I try not to look UP . 
Sure these were little when I planted them but they
arent any more!  If you plan to stay in a house, do
think ahead!  I could cut most of these trees down  I
guess but I have come to like the privacy that a treed
front yard gives me. 
 My property was in the boonies when I moved here and
is now surrounded by subdivisions.  We all had horses,
goats, chickens and geese 25 years ago, now there are
SUV's and motorbikes.  
This has really made me change the way I
garden....under the trees I have planted a "northwest
native plants" garden that thrives in the conditions.
With the idea of planting hosta and rhododendron in
the back yard next summer, I bought 100 un-named hosta
from Gilbert Wilds nursery for $100.  They have all
grown nicely- my temporary bed was a pathway between
the native garden and another perennial shade garden
in the front yard.  I like not having to care for the
pathway and plan on increasing the native garden when
the hosta get moved to their new home...BTW that is a
real good deal if you have lots of shade to plant and
aren't really picky about your hosta.  I don't have
the website address handy but they are called Gilbert
H Wild and Son in Missouri.  They also sell row run
daylily for a similar deal.

Roses are now in a new cutting bed situated on a north
sunny slope.  Sadly I lost quite a few when I moved
them but have decided to replace the ones that bit the
dirt with more disease resistant roses.  I'm tired of
fighting black spor, rust and mildew and my gardening
time, which used to be devoted to maybe 15 roses and
some annuals is now spread amongst 7 different beds
with different themes.  Plants have to be able to stan
on their own or out they go!

Good luck finding new plants-enjoy the search and let
me know what you have decided on since we garden in
the same area
elle in Cedar Mill OR
Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com

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