What is shade?

I notice that the members of the list are  accepting when questions are not
strictly about  shade gardening.  So the name of the list is OK by me. But I
just suddenly realized that I am having trouble with the very concept of
what shade is.  In 1996 we moved into our retirement home here in the
western slope of the Sierra mountains at 3000', in Zone 7.  We are in the
middle of a nicely varied forest, native plants wise: Yellow Pine and Black
Oak belt.  We cut down only as many trees as we had to for the house.  Then
I started tucking in plants in the small area at front, which had a bit of
sun.

We have taken down only small trees since, but now I have a mixed area which
is only "Sun" or "Shade" depending on the season and time of day. I plant
things and hope for the best.  I no longer know if some areas are shade, or
not.  I have been moving things around, if they are really unhappy.  We just
moved a "Sappho" rhododendron because it had not flowered in 4 years, and a
local nurseryman said it likes sun.  Just this week we moved a Fuchsia
Magellanica because after 6 years it is still tiny.  It did have some blooms
on it, but after seeing huge trees of this plant elsewhere, I realized it
wasnt too happy.

I guess my whole garden is "Part shade", except for a few areas  that get no
direct light.  I have planted very carefully in those areas if at all.  In
the total shade by my front porch I planted a  Mahonia someone gave me,
thinking it would not do well, and after several years it looks pretty good
and has grown.  Is this  just hit or miss?  I notice some plant catalogs
contradict each other about sun/shade requirements.  A few years ago my
husband said, "What's a rhododendron?"  Now he is enthusiastic about them,
and we have quite a few.  But I still cant tell if I am planting one
correctly, or not.  I have a few plants spotted around which I really like
the idea of:  a gypsophila, which I think/hope  is in the "Sun".   And a few
roses which I keep hoping are getting enough sun.  I sometimes think I
should go out and plot where the sun is for which time or day, in which
season.  But I am not that organized.  I guess nurseries cant be that
specific, because every region has a different mix of temperature, soil,
etc.  We have to water every day here in the hot summer.  So I guess its all
up to me.  Any suggestions?

Anelle
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