Thursday, May 17, 2007

The Container Garden - Made in the (Part) Shade

Part of our container garden gets blazing-ly strong sun most of the day. The other half - life-saving, reprieve-offering part shade. By July, I fully embrace and appreciate my shade deck garden - along with a tumbler of icy limeade and a knitting project. Finally taking a cue from the seasoned Southerners.


What Has Worked In My Container Shade Garden (So Far)

Sprinklings of Impatiens in unusual containers
Japanese Painted Fern
Autumn Fern
Boston Fern (pictured at top)
Ivy

What I'm Testing Out This Year

Hostas (pictured above)
Black-Eyed Susan Vine
Asiatic Lilies
Vinca Minor (very invasive - I only recommend it for container plantings)
Sweet Woodruff
Daylilies

Other Part Shade Standards

Coleus
Hellebores (spring bloomer)
Bleeding Hearts (spring)
Different varieties of Heuchera
Astilbe
Pulmonarias (spring)
Primrose (spring)
Bellflowers
Foxglove
Lily-of-the-Valley (spring)
Virginia Bluebells (spring)

Also, this book looks beautiful . . . I don't own it (yet). But I DO have an anniversary coming up (a-hem).


5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tracey, I loved seeing your list of container plantings. As far as your 'standards', have you overwintered those perrenials in pots? I did overwinter some hota and astillbe in pots this year. The astillbe has lived so far, which it was having a hard time doing in the ground! I guess because it's easier to keep it moist in cointainers. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Whoops! That last email was from me! <:o)

Betsy

Tracey said...

Thanks, Betsy! I have only over wintered the Boston Fern (almost unkillable), the Autumn Fern (absolutely unkillable) and the ivy. I do have the hosta and the daylilies in nice pots that I expect to over winter (for the first time) - I'm so glad to hear you had luck with your hosta.
I forgot to mention that I also have boxwoods in containers . . . they over wintered beautifully.

Unknown said...

Don't you just love it when people flaunt their Blue Poppies (almost impossible to grow on the East coast) on the cover of their books or catalogues? It's like showing us photos of Gunnera grown to it's natural size. For gardeners it should be considered cruel and inhumane punishment. ;)

Tracey said...

I know it - lulled and drawn in by the beauty of the blue flowers!