Re: [SG] intro & deep shade question; zone 5a

Jan,
I live in central Illinois and I probably have more shade loving than sun loving plants.  If you have the kind of shade that's bright where the sun peeks throught in the morning and evening you can gwrow all kinds of things.  The best way to tell about your conditions is to tell people what are your best performing plants.  Is it bright enough for Rhododendrons?  I grow about 40 kinds of ferns such as hartstongue, holly and painted fern.  Primula sieboldii, P. kisoana and P. japonica do great in central Illinois.  Saxifraga "garnet, Haberlea, Lewisia tweedyi, Primula auricula, Bletilla, Calanthe, some Primula acaulis, Pulmonaria, Cyclamen coum, purpurescens and hederifolium (with protection), Hepatica, Anemone, Myosotis, some gentians, tuberous corydalis such as transylvanica "Georg Baker" all want shade and do well here.  What part of central Illinois do you live in?  I live in Urbana.  Right now my Cyclamen coum are noticeable from the street.  They started blooming in Feb when buried under snow.  It's borderline hardy and evergreen here.  If you put any mulch on it it will bloom before you even can look at it.  Because of it I put a portable coldframe made out of 1 x 8's with a fiberglass top nailed to a  2 x 2 frame.  As soon a hard winter is over I can remove it and have it in bloom, it starts about when the showdrops bloom.  I did put it back on during early march before the snow.  The blooms opened when the were buried under the snow.  I will put a picture on my website whenI get the film back.  If your deep shade area can be seen from the street it means it is not too dark.  My north side planting is one of my choice areas because it is so cool.  You must plant some painted ferns.  If it is near you go to Mourning Dove nursery in Mahomet, you'll love it.
Frank
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