Quote:
Originally posted by tmdiva
Ditto on hostas--I just bought a couple more for my yard, which has extensive shady portions. Impatiens do really well in the shade, but they're an annual and I'm not much into that kind of thing (I also don't like the colors they come in much).
One thing I bought this year to go in my shady corner is Evergreen Huckleberry. Besides the berries (I'm big on edible gardening), it has lovely foliage (new foliage in the spring is red), and tiny pink-tinged white blossoms. In the shade, it can grow to 6-8 feet.
That same shady corner of my yard also has a lot of lady's mantle, which is beautiful (frothy chartreuse flowers) but self-seeds like the dickens. If you don't mind this, or are vigilant about pulling up all the little starts, it's really nice, seems to thrive in shade, and works REALLY, REALLY WELL in flower arrangements--like baby's breath or something, only chartreuse.
Also thriving in my shady yard are various ferns. Bracken ferns also work well to fill in flower arrangements (last week's had orange roses, lady's mantle and a few sprigs of bracken fern), but also can spread. Sword ferns spread less, and can get really really big (I have a few on the shady side of my house that are nearly six feet across).
I'll second the suggestion about having the tree professionally trimmed. I bit the bullet and did that this year on my very large (read: 30-40 feet) flowering plum, and it's made a world of difference.
tm
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Whoah! I had no idea about the level of yard knowledge on here. Thanks so much to everyone for their responses. I have pictures of the new home and yard so if anyone feels like seeing and commenting on the tree, I can email it if I have your email. I think it's a big maple. Although the tree shades almost all of the back yard it is only the section of the yard with the roots (a big section) that is grass-less. Oh well. But after seeing the house again for the home inspection (the poor Inspector - single woman AND city dweller) I realize now the tree is not my problem. It will instead be ripping up the poop-colored carpet and then learning how to apply baseboard molding to cover the resulting gap between the hardwood floors and wall. Coincidentally an ex called the other day to say Hi (after 8 years!!!) and he's a carpenter. Shwing!
PS - Bilmore: so what the heck is going on with the baby loons? Is your son breast feeding them now?
Viet Mom
