This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

[SHADEGARDENS] Newbie; introduction

Hello to all--
    I am new to this list, and will attempt to give a brief bio & gardening
conditions here.  We have lived most of our lives in the midwest, but have
been here in SW Louisiana for 5 years.  This area is borderline 8b/9, but
weather is unpredictable.  We have heavy clay soil, which we are finally
learning how to deal with.  We have over 50 trees, some quite large, 40
azalea bushes, several dogwood trees, Korean cherry trees, redbuds in our
back yard.  We have about 3/4 of an acre here.  Most of the trees are sweet
gum or water oak, and a few are *huge*.  These trees and shrubs were already
in place and quite old when we bought the house.  I have been attempting to
grow native plants in the back, as much as possible, but the constant shade
is a real problem.  I have had luck with:  Salvia van houttii (sp?),
impatiens, log fern, sword fern, wood fern, fire spike, hidden ginger,
butterfly ginger, walking iris, ardisia, aspidistra, pentas, turk's cap.
Less successful have been:  hostas (decline rather than growing bigger every
year, fade easily away in the heat of summer); daylilies (and I love them);
spider lily; hydrangea; climbing hydrangea (native); coral honeysuckle;
stokesia; dutch iris; even Louisiana iris.  Any suggestions for deep shade,
heavy clay (w/some amendment) would be appreciated.  In winter, we do have
sun back there, which is why I think the azaleas do well (evergreen); and I
plant pansies then, too.

I have a masters degree in English, with an emphasis in creative writing.  I
don't really have a green thumb, but I like to try.  I am curious and
impulsive, and my gardens reflect that!  The hardest thing for me to do is
to plan--if I see a plant that looks especially neat or interesting, in it
goes.  Later, I am often astounded at the way something has taken over,
declined, etc.

We are baby boomers, the older set, in our early 50s.  We love Lafayette LA,
but the rain, humidity, and shade are hard on gardening!  Sometimes we have
lakes in the back from extremely heavy rainfall.

I am glad to have found this list--most people seem to mean "part sun" when
they mention "shade".  It's hard to find folks who mean "dark!" when they
say "shade" :>)
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index