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Re: [SHADEGARDENS] Flowers

At 10:33 PM 2/28/98 EST, you wrote:
>We don't know much about gardening, but really want a yard that's constantly
>full of different flowering plants, of different colors, that bloom in turn
>from early spring till fall.  Is this an unreasonable hope?

Hi Faith,

Take heart! If I had to choose between an all shade garden and an all sun
garden, the all shade would win out every time. I love to garden in the
shade....the coolest place to be mid-day in the heat of summer, and there
are so many wonderful plants to use.

 I know this robin has many very knowledgeable gardeners who can supply you
with a list of interesting shade plants which will flower during each of
the four seasons....yes, even winter. :-)

I will tell you of a few of my own favorites, too:
*The Columbines are early bloomers, and I love the delicate blossoms from
this plant.
*Creeping Phlox is another early stand-out with blossoms of several colors
to choose.
*Garden Phlox soon follows in early summer with long-lasting blooms.
*Ajuga is my favorite for the purplish foliage and texture around the other
plants.
*Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan) blooms from mid-summer to early fall giving a
bright yellow splash of warmth to the shade garden. *Cushion Spurge is
another favorite of mine and works well in light shade, forming neat mounds
of texture and color.
*Spiraea, or Dropwort, also blooms in mid to late summer and adds a small
"shrub" effect.
*Coralbells (Heuchera) is another I like....may take a year or two to
bloom, but it's well worth the wait for its late spring to late summer
blossoms.
*And we mustn't forget Foxglove (Digitalis) for the stately spikes of
decorative color.
*Bleeding Heart (Dicentra) blooms from late spring to mid-summer with those
unique heart-shaped blossoms.
*The Hardy Mum (Dendrathema) is good for late season color....just be sure
to cut them back about every 6 weeks with your last clipping timed for mid
July....that works here in zone 7, at least....may be June for cooler
climates?
*Last, but certainly not least on my list is the Daylily....there are
literally thousands of different cultivars which will bloom early, mid, or
late (many will rebloom) in the season.

If any of you grow daylilies, please tell us about your late season
bloomers, will you?

Sherryl
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