Category Archives: Shade

Pretty Little Iris

I keep getting emails from home about all the little bulbs that are popping up and flowering throughout the garden.  I’ve always been somewhat obsessed by bulbs and used to plunge in hundreds of them every fall.  By now, they’ve … Continue reading

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Filed under bulbs, Shade

A classic beauty: Hydrangea ‘Preziosa’

POSTED BY KIM — I’ve been hanging on to this picture of Hydrangea ‘Preziosa’ on my computer desktop for a while, so now I’m just going to share it with ya’ll and be done with it! This specimen is down … Continue reading

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Filed under Hydrangea, Shade, Shrubs

Love ‘em AND hate ‘em: Chasmanthium latifolium, Northern Sea Oats

POSTED BY KIM — What a great grass this is!  Northern sea oats is one of the few beauties to take on the shade and really make a statement, in addition to adding some great height and texture. BUT… It … Continue reading

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Filed under Grass, Perennials, Shade, Thugs

The ‘Annabelle’ effect

POSTED BY KIM — I love ‘Annabelle’ hydrangeas, don’t get me wrong.  I have — and always will have — an Annabelle in my garden. But look what happens after a hard rain.  And those flower heads are so heavy, … Continue reading

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Filed under Hydrangea, Shade, Shrubs, Whining

The only fern you need to grow

POSTED BY KIM …at least in my opinion.    I love the American Maidenhair fern, Adiantum pedatum.  It’s a Missouri native, loves part or full shade, and gets about 2 feet tall. Spectacular!  I have some growing in a hydrangea bed, and it’s … Continue reading

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Filed under Ferns, Natives, Shade

I loooove my weeping redbud

POSTED BY KIM — It’s just a baby, but look how sweet my Cercis canadensis ‘Lavender Twist’ is.  I was feeling like my garden makes a better summer show, but there’s some spring stuff going on, like this little beauty … Continue reading

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Filed under Shade, Trees

Epimedium: Tiny fireworks in the shade garden

POSTED BY KIM — My epimedium are at their spectacular best right now.  They’re so tiny, but it’s a little show worth viewing.  They thrive in conditions from dry to shady woodland soil, and their foliage is semi-evergreen, so they … Continue reading

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Filed under Groundcover, Perennials, Shade

Next St. Louis Hydrangea Society Meeting set

POSTED BY KIM — Mark your calendars: Wed., May 19, 6:30 at Sugar Creek Gardens.  Check out the hydrangea website for more info. In other hydrangea news, my Hydrangea serrata ‘Kiyosumi‘ arrived yesterday from Hydrangeasplus.com.  Yay!!!

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OMG! It’s been 7 years in the making, but my climbing hydrangea has flower buds!

POSTED BY KIM — I was out cleaning up dead leaves this afternoon and I went to straighten up the trellis that is (sort of) supporting my climbing hydrangea when I felt like I was hit by lightning!  I…have…flower buds!!! … Continue reading

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Filed under Hydrangea, Perennials, Shade, Vines

Virginia Bluebells are making their spring debut

POSTED BY KIM — Oooh, I love my Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica).  Their leaves are just now popping their heads above ground, but it’s all about the flowers.  You CANNOT beat the blues and purples that mingle in these petals.  … Continue reading

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Filed under Natives, Perennials, Shade