A Garden Design for Shade

September and October have been very busy gardening months for me so I’d like to share some of what’s been keeping me outdoors and digging up my yard!

The thing I really love about gardening is that if a design doesn’t work, you can always change it. This autumn I decided to rearrange and enlarge my shade garden, a smallish space that included a birdbath, ajuga, bleeding heart, hostas, ferns, brunnera, a clematis and cimicifuga (bugbane) planted together in a tiny tapestry of color and form. (In the photo below the old-fashioned pink bleeding heart has already gone dormant and the purple clematis isn’t visible) I had originally planted the bugbane off to one side of the birdbath on the right and placed two large hostas behind it but after a few years this large plant overwhelmed the hostas, hiding them from view, and limiting the morning sunlight they received. I had to rethink my design and reposition these plants to enhance their beauty and create a more pleasing vignette. At the same time, I wanted to expand the overall size of the garden using plants I already had on hand.

The original shade garden (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

Once the weather cooled off in mid-September I dug up the cimicifuga, separated it into three clumps and repositioned these in back of the garden. Although these plants and most of the green lady ferns have already died back and are not visible in the following photos, they will create a tall backdrop for next year’s garden. The large ‘Royal Standard’ hosta (which you can see behind the birdbath above) was relocated to the space vacated by the bugbane where it will receive the extra sun needed for abundant blooms. A ‘Gold Standard’ hosta was moved to the left and a little behind the brunnera to brighten up that darker area. After moving these plants to their new homes, the stage was set to add more shade plants and expand the existing garden.

Variegated Solomon’s Seal will add a vertical accent and glimmer of white behind the blue brunnera while golden hostas and Creeping Jenny will draw the eye in (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

On the far left side where the shade from a hemlock kept the lawn from growing was a similar sized area just right for planting with more shady beauties. In the spring I’d incorporated some compost into the soil and added some Sweet Woodruff to quickly fill in and cover ground. A layer of mulch kept it moist over the hot and dry summer months. Now, I worked filling the space just to the right of this groundcover with more compost and shade-loving plants. A white ‘Bridal Veil’ astilbe, some variegated Solomon’s Seal, a small white-edged hosta and ‘White Nancy’ lamium were added to the garden while more Japanese painted ferns were repeated, marrying the old design with the new. I continued by spreading the dark purple rosettes of ‘Black Scallop’ ajuga and tendrils of bright ‘Creeping Jenny’ in the foreground to define and soften the curvy edge. When all the perennials were in, I added 50 critter-proof bulbs of allium ‘Cowanii’ for striking white accent blooms in late spring and early summer.

Next spring the newly planted left side of the shade garden will fill in with Sweet Woodruff, Japanese painted ferns, ‘Bridal Veil’ astilbe and more hostas (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

Although most of the plants are now beaten and bedraggled from several cold nights, you can still imagine how the garden will look next year when each month will bring something new! It’ll be stunning in spring with the blooms of pink Bleeding Heart, the deep purple flower spikes of ajuga, the delicate blue sprays of brunnera and the white flower clusters of Sweet Woodruff; even the Solomon’s Seal will be sporting tiny white bells along its tall stems. As the season progresses, the feathery white plumes of the astilbe, along with the white flowers of the allium bulbs and ‘White Nancy’ lamium, will share the stage with the purple ‘Arabella’ clematis. Summer will bring spikes of hosta blooms in shades of white and pale lavender while the towering cream-colored wands of the cimicifuga will take up the rear. Behind the stone wall, three new Pieris planted in May will slowly join with the mother shrub to form an evergreen and deer-resistant hedge behind the shade garden, uniting it with the woodland beyond.

Pieris shrubs edge the woodland behind the shade garden (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

The varied shades of blue and purple in the foliage of the ajuga, the Japanese painted ferns, the ‘Looking Glass’ brunnera, and large blue-leaved hosta are enhanced by the sunny greens, golds and accents of white also repeated throughout. Even when little or nothing is blooming, the many colors, textures and forms of the shade plants themselves will keep this garden looking lively and bright!

Creeping Jenny behaves best in pots (Photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

A word of caution! Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’) is an aggressive spreader and considered invasive in many areas. I like to use it in pots and planters where it’s easily contained and nicely fills the role of ‘spiller’ with its trailing habit. However, in the garden, this innocent-looking plant with its tiny bright leaves can spread like wildfire! Each year, I keep it in check by removing large segments and pulling it back from crowding other plants. I’ve found that the ‘Black Scallop’ ajuga, another vigorous spreader, seems to hold its own next to Jenny since its thick mat of rosettes prevents other plants from easily taking hold.

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Botanical Interests

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Planning Ahead with Flower Bulbs

I can’t imagine a garden without the early spring blooms of bulbs such as crocus, snowdrops, hyacinth, daffodils, tulips and more! In late spring, the alliums and ornithogalum shine next to my early perennials. All during the spring months, as I watch each different bulb type emerge and bloom in succession, I visualize ways in which to add more beautiful bulbs to my gardens.

Alliums Stratos and Christophii with Ornithogalum in my June garden (photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

LET IT BE

It’s late June and all that remains of my beautiful spring bulb display is yellowing, tattered foliage. As difficult as it is to leave this withered mess untouched, bulbs need the energy stored in their foliage to produce blooms for next spring. Never cut, tie or braid bulb foliage but allow the plants to complete their growth cycle as undisturbed as possible. Be patient for in a few short weeks the unsightly dying foliage will have completely disappeared. Many bulbs self-sow so you’ll also want to leave those seed pods to work their magic in your garden next year. If your bulbs are interplanted with perennials, these large plants generally do a great job at hiding the mess leftover from your spring bulb party as they quickly reach their mature summertime size. Any remaining vacant spots can be filled in with some cheerful annuals.

Daffodils and Grecian Windflowers in May (photo by Nancy Marie Allen)

PLAN AHEAD

While you can still see where your bulbs grow, it’s a good time to think about what you want your garden to look like next spring. Would you like to plant more of a certain bulb variety or try something new? Do you have a color scheme in mind? Take a walk around the garden with a notebook and write down where you’d like to add more bulbs and what types. It’s also great to take pictures so you’ll have a visual aid when fall planting season comes along. If you could use more height and drama in your spring display, try some tall alliums. If you’d like to cover a lot of ground, early bulbs like snow glories (chionodoxa) or scilla will quickly spread themselves around for an abundance of early blooms. And don’t forget summer bulbs, like Oriental lilies, which make a stunning late-season addition to any garden!

Chionodoxa brighten the garden in April (photo courtesy of Preen.com)

MARK THE SPOT

Here’s an easy tip for helping with new bulb placement near existing plantings when you want to add more of a good thing. This year, for instance, I’ll be adding more allium christophii in a garden where some have already been planted. When the foliage is almost gone on my current plants, I’ll “mark” the spot with a rock. In the fall when my new bulbs arrive, it will be easy for me to find where the alliums are already planted and, by doing this, I can avoid disturbing the older bulbs while adding the new bulbs around them. By the way, the giant seed heads of allium christophii can remain in the garden for weeks after blooming, thus extending their season even longer.

Allium Christophii (photo courtesy of Ashridge Trees)

PLANT OUT OF SEASON

Although fall is prime time for bulb planting, there are circumstances when we may have to plant bulbs out of season. When we’re left with large clumps of daffodils or hyacinth which have stopped blooming because they’ve become overcrowded, it’s time to dig them up and separate the bulbs into smaller plantings. Also, after several seasons, some bulbs may spread too far beneath surrounding perennials where they can’t get enough sunlight; these stragglers should be moved for optimum blooms next spring.

Whatever the reason, there will come a time when you need to dig up and move bulbs. However, if you wait until fall to perform this task, it will be hard to find your bulbs which by then will be well hidden beneath the earth and covered by other plants. In this case, to avoid digging blind come October, wait until the foliage has almost completely died back in early summer and then carefully dig around the clump of bulbs. Lift them up, separate them into smaller groups and relocate the bulbs to other areas where they can spread out to bloom again. Put a little bulb food in the new hole and water after planting to help them settle in. The remaining foliage will disappear almost overnight so mark the spot or take a photo if you need to remember where you’ve already planted.

Allium Nigrum with Foxglove (photo courtesy of Swan Cottage Flowers)

SHOP EARLY

It’s hard to think of fall planting when summer has only just begun, but in the gardening world we have to plan ahead and that means shopping early for our spring bulbs. There are so many wonderful bulb websites and catalogs to browse through, it’s easy to create the perfect spring bulb garden for next year. Order now for fall planting so you’ll be sure to get the varieties you want before they’re sold out. It’s always a pleasant surprise to get a box of bulbs in the mail come fall!

Snowdrops provide early food for honey bees (photo courtesy of Garden with Diana)

For more on planning a spring bulb garden, click on this informative link:

https://www.longfield-gardens.com/article/How-To-Plan-A-Spring-Bulb-Garden

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links to the companies listed below. When you click through on a link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank You! 

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The Power of Fragrance

With the advent of spring, I’ve been treated to many beautiful flower photos on social media while, in my own garden, the earliest bulbs are just beginning to waken from their winter’s rest.  Over the next couple of weeks, the garden will come alive with tiny blooms while their sweet fragrance will once again fill the air.

flowers plant spring macro
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The first emerging spring flowers such as Snowdrops, Chionodoxa, Puschkinia, and Crocus may be small in appearance but they can be big on fragrance.  Since you would have to be at ground level to catch their delicate scents, many people miss them altogether.  To capture this fleeting essence of early spring, I like to cut some of these little gems and place them in vases inside where their soft colors and subtle fragrances can be enjoyed close-up.

selective focus photography of yellow flowers
Photo by David Jakab on Pexels.com

As I take it all in, I know it’s just the beginning of many weeks of delightful garden scents as Daffodils, Hyacinth, Tulips, Lily of the Valley and Alliums make their debut!  Soon, the fragrances of blooming shrubs and perennials will envelop us.  One only has to take a walk on a warm spring day to fall under this intoxicating aromatic spell; all around, fragrance permeates the air!

relax old rest book
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There are many scents that I enjoy this time of year, but if I could pick just one flower that speaks to me most powerfully, it would be the Lilac.  Here in New England, it’s hard to find a yard that doesn’t include at least one lilac shrub.  Many people have several different colors and some properties even boast lilac hedges.  It’s a perennial favorite and for good reason – there is simply nothing else like the fragrance of lilacs!

white lilac veri-ivanova-17534-unsplash
White Lilac (Photo courtesy Veri Ivanova – Unsplash)

More than any other flower, lilacs hold the magical power to transport me to another time and place.  The scent carries sweet associations of my childhood as I envision the white and purple blooms by the back porch, my mother filling a vase for the house or my little self carrying a small bouquet to school.  It’s the fragrance of many cherished memories!

close up photography of pink roses under sunny sky
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The romantic scent of Roses also has a powerful effect on me, carrying me back to a gentler time when ladies wore long flowing dresses and carried parasols to protect their fair skin from the sun.  My mind conjures up images of Downton Abbey, the grand entrance filled with huge oriental vases, all overflowing with fragrant English roses.  Thanks in part to the efforts of breeder David Austin, the romance of rose growing has resurged in recent years and it’s easy to find roses of many colors everywhere you buy plants.  Once you’ve added fragrant roses to your garden, you will never again want to be without them!

girl sitting on grass smelling white petaled flower
Photo by Tetyana Kovyrina on Pexels.com

The next time you pass a beautiful bloom, go ahead and give it a deep sniff.  Take the time to stop and smell the flowers!  It may surprise you to find out that many plants we don’t typically think of as fragrant carry their own sweet scents such as Pansies, Violas, Iris, Astilbes, Daylilies, and even some Hostas.  This year, try incorporating some fragrant flowers into your gardens or outdoor pots and experience what the power of fragrance can do for you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links to the companies listed below. When you click through on a link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank You!