On the hottest day of summer, the most peaceful place in the neighborhood is a shade garden. Such woodland gardens have an understated elegance resulting from combinations of textures, variations of green, and flowers in restful colors punctuated by occasional bursts of brighter hues. A shady nook invites you to relax and listen to the chirping birds and the wind rustling through the leaves overhead.

A plant that got a lot of attention last spring was Acaena microphylla, New Zealand Bur, an evergreen trailing plant for rock gardens or as a ground cover with brilliant deep red flowers, blooming from June through September. This was such a hit that we are adding another variety of Acaena, called ‘Blue Haze’, with a prostrate habit, brown-red flower heads and bluish-bronze foliage. and bluish-bronze foliage.

One of the most delightful shade plants is Columbine, Aquilegia. They come in a many colors and sizes. One of our favorites is ‘McKana’s Giants’. We are always rewarded with densely clustered bouquets of long spurred flowers, and an extra bonus is the hummingbirds they bring. These long blooming plants will flower from spring until mid summer if dead headed.

If you have seen our display of Corydalis lutea in the front inside gardens, you’ll understand why we LOVE this shade plant! Bright clear lemon yellow bleeding-heart type flowers atop beautiful silvery cut foliage blooms all summer long through late November, and it reseeds like crazy. (We’ve been able to dig up the new ones when we sell out of everything in pots.) Mentioned in magazines and by Martha herself. A new variety of Corydalis that we are featuring is C. ‘Father David’, beyond blue, this stunner has dark blue flowers with reddish stems and ferny foliage. It blooms from June through August. It is only 12” tall, making it perfect for a border with your smaller gold-leafed Hostas and red –leafed Heucheras, Coralbells. A great lacy contrast.

If you haven’t tried any Foam Flowers, Tiarellas yet, now’s your chance. This spring we are offering our largest selection yet of these long-blooming shade-lovers. This one is a winner for those of you with deep shade.

One last plant worth mentioning is the silvery ground cover, Lamium ‘Pink Pewter’, Dead Nettle. This low, mat-forming little gem has creamy variegation, white on green, and soft pink flowers.

For more information about shade gardening, attend one of the FREE garden talks.  Go to Special Events and Classes for dates and times.