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Re: [SG] Hello! /Duncan

Hello Duncan,
        Rather than seeing a problem (practically intractable problems of
gardening in the shade), I see only wonderful opportunities for gardening.
You are simply not familiar with and think in those terms. Shade gardening
is the BEST way to garden and is no more problems than any other kind of
gardening. There is no shortage of blooming perennials and wildflowers for
shade. You can have something in bloom all 12 months of the year where you
garden without great difficulty and with great enjoyment.
        Please relax and give yourself some time. You have a whole new fascinating
world opening up to you. Lots to learn and observe. Also some fun times as
you learn about the relationship between you, plants and the animals. Such
as the pines you mention... they are quite useful, indeed, to wildlife for
both protection and food. Wait until you see something in white or yellow
bloom against the dark greens of the pines.
        Pull up a chair, pour a cool one and lets talk shade gardening....
        Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
          around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com

----------
> From: Duncan Murrell <duncan@WORKMAN.COM>
> To: shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
> Subject: [SG] Hello!
> Date: Monday, September 14, 1998 12:30 PM
>
> Hello, shadegardens,
>
> Just a brief introduction. I live in Chapel Hill, NC, in Zone 7, amid a
> thick stand of yellow pine, dogwood, oak, tulip poplars and sweet gum. We
> have some full sun at the front of the yard where we are creating a
> raised perennial border and an annual flower/ vegetable garden. Also in
> the front, we have a small herb garden.
>
> Oops, I said "we." My girlfriend and I are the gardeners in question.
> It's her house, and I feel certain that if we can work out the
> practically intractable problems of gardening in the shade, there'll be
> no reason why we shouldn't be married. (Let me assure you that the garden
> is not the only consideration!). Also, my father is the undisputed flower
> champ of Montgomery County, MD, and he loves to lord it over me. He's
> never had success in the shade, however. Thus, the shade garden is my
> ticket to filial parity.
>
> Enough of that. Anyway, I love the trees (except for the pines, which are
> annoying and practically useless for wildlife), and so cutting some of
> them down is not an option. The house is on approx. 1/2 acre, most of it
> wooded. There is a cleared section directly in front of the house which
> gets a little more sun (partial shade), but lies at the lowest part of
> the yard. It doesn't drain very well after heavy storms, and so the grass
> is pretty sickly. Besides, I hate grass, so I'm trying to come up with an
> interesting design that incorporates a flowering groundcover with taller
> perennials (lenten rose with bleeding heart? Any suggestions?). I'd like
> to start ripping the turf up soon, and preparing the bed soon thereafter,
> so I can put in ground cover by mid-October. Any suggestions about how to
> go about this?
>
> That's the one problem place in the front yard, the rest of it has
> typical shade problems, but I think we've hit on a few solutions.
>
> The back yard is heavily wooded and very large. The idea of cutting down
> trees and preparing huge beds back there is, frankly, more than we can
> handle. I'd like to work with the natural flora back there and create a
> shaded wildflower and native shrub garden. It would be nice if the
> backyard was a haven for wildlife, since we have a nice deck with a grand
> visual sweep of that area of the yard. I _like_ gardens that look a
> little overgrown. Any suggestions?
>
> All right, there's the introduction.
>
> Go forth and cultivate.
>
> Duncan Murrell
> Chapel Hill, NC, Zone 7
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