let’s talk shade
a whole new world
A perennial is a soft stemmed plant that emerges year after year. Some stick to themselves, some colonize, some spread through trailers, and some live in this gray pseudo-annual area of seeding in… we will get to that. Annuals need to be replaced ‘annually’. This is because they do not survive in our climate. Shrubs are woody stemmed plants and trees are trees. When building a landscape think trees, midrange and foreground. I want to talk about perennials, particularly in a shade garden. Shade gardens have a reputation of being limited, dark and monochromatic green environments. I think a shady spot is a truly special space. Shade lends itself to dramatic texture and an ode to green!
When working with a particularly shady spot the worst thing you can do is lie to yourself about how much sun you have. When in doubt, go low light! This way you won’t be disappointed. Putting a plant that requires more light than it gets will most likely become leggy, your greens will get a tinge of yellow, your blooms will be sparse. Go low light! Your options are diverse. I want to break this fascination with ‘flowers’ and ‘color’. Let’s paint a picture…dramatic and bold dark-leafed Ligularia, falling over silvery fine-textured Dicentra, rugged Ophiopogon flowing between plants with a grassy green fern unfurling behind. Going further - glossy, spiny and deep green Mahonia leaves and tiny little Windflowers peeping up ready to pop in late fall while the Helebourus hold their dark and shimmery leaves preparing to shine in the winter.
As the season passes, I find that a shade garden lends itself to a daily exploration to discover its secrets. The blooms of these plants are not quite as showy as what you will get in full sun, but a shade garden has moments that are just beautiful and dramatic. These spaces are fun and challenging and dramatic. I love shade gardens because this is where you can truly play! I find that a shady space sparks creativity in me and encourages me to put whacky textures together, to get bold and create something that is easy to care for but just magical to explore.
