Well, I'm not a master gardener, and my flower beds are all in full sun, but here are my thoughts:
Carlassean's idea of hollyhocks against the house would be beautiful. Their shape and color would be great in front of the white siding. Hollyhocks always remind me of cottage/hobbit gardens.
In Texas, lots of people grow caladiums in the shade, but I have no idea whether they'll grow up North. The Fiddlehead ferns that Tstharp suggested might be better up there. And they'd get big!
If you decide on begonias, ask your nursery about "rose begonias," whose blossoms look like roses; Milady has one in her house that has beautiful yellow blooms. Begonias or hostas would be nice in front of the hollyhocks. Or you might consider some coleus.
Then at the front of the bed, I agree with everyone that shade-loving impatiens would be lovely. They come in several colors and in a couple of different heights. I've never seen lily-of-the-valley in real life, but I'll bet it would be beautiful.
At the very edge, you might ask if sweet alyssum would work. It's very low-growing and is covered with lovely little white or purple blossoms. Having that spill over the railroad tie would be so pretty. (It may need sun, though.)
With pink or lavender impatiens behind the white impatiens, and begonias or hostas in front of the hollyhocks -- how beautiful!
Of course, this may be too many plants for your little area. So your best bet is to show your nurseryman the photo and dimensions of your space, and see what he recommends.
Oh, one suggestion about feeding: Ask if they recommend/sell slow-release plant food. It comes in BB-sized pellets that you sprinkle around each plant. A little food is released into the soil with each watering.
Oh-Oh-Oh! You might be able to grow pansies and petunias year-round in that shady spot! If you do, I'll be totally jealous because pansies are strictly cool-weather flowers here snapdragons would be cute behind them and against the latticework. Then the hollyhocks against the house. Yeh.
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Date: 2007-04-20 09:14 pm (UTC)From:Carlassean's idea of hollyhocks against the house would be beautiful. Their shape and color would be great in front of the white siding. Hollyhocks always remind me of cottage/hobbit gardens.
In Texas, lots of people grow caladiums in the shade, but I have no idea whether they'll grow up North. The Fiddlehead ferns that Tstharp suggested might be better up there. And they'd get big!
If you decide on begonias, ask your nursery about "rose begonias," whose blossoms look like roses; Milady has one in her house that has beautiful yellow blooms. Begonias or hostas would be nice in front of the hollyhocks. Or you might consider some coleus.
Then at the front of the bed, I agree with everyone that shade-loving impatiens would be lovely. They come in several colors and in a couple of different heights. I've never seen lily-of-the-valley in real life, but I'll bet it would be beautiful.
At the very edge, you might ask if sweet alyssum would work. It's very low-growing and is covered with lovely little white or purple blossoms. Having that spill over the railroad tie would be so pretty. (It may need sun, though.)
With pink or lavender impatiens behind the white impatiens, and begonias or hostas in front of the hollyhocks -- how beautiful!
Of course, this may be too many plants for your little area. So your best bet is to show your nurseryman the photo and dimensions of your space, and see what he recommends.
Oh, one suggestion about feeding: Ask if they recommend/sell slow-release plant food. It comes in BB-sized pellets that you sprinkle around each plant. A little food is released into the soil with each watering.
Oh-Oh-Oh! You might be able to grow pansies and petunias year-round in that shady spot! If you do,
I'll be totally jealous because pansies are strictly cool-weather flowers heresnapdragons would be cute behind them and against the latticework. Then the hollyhocks against the house. Yeh.