Shade: A Blessing or a Curse?

My first serious garden was mostly in the ghost . I was populate in a small bungalow and convinced the landlord to countenance me “ spruce things up ” around the place to offset my monthly rent . At the time I was pass to college and working part - meter at a greenhouse . I acquire all the works at a deduction , so the organisation worked out well . The property owner got a lovely garden , and I got to keep more money in my pouch for text edition — or Dunkin ’ Donuts coffees , if I ’m being dependable . The only “ problem ” was that the garden was in deep nuance . At the time I considered low - visible light a boon to my efforts . I could n’t institute vivacious peonies , or Baptisia , or catmints — all of my ducky . alternatively I ended up experimenting with new assortment of toadlilies and rodgersia , and learned the value of colorful foliage plants like ‘ Aureola ’ Japanese timber sens . I now cognise that this shady border was stunning — and it ’s probably my favorite infinite I ’ve ever implant .

My current garden , which is nearly 10 years sometime , is in full sun . I always thought that was the best condition for creating the skillful garden , but I ’ve come to realize I was wrong . It ’s harder to get plant established here because you need to be so persevering in your watering regimes ( I am not ) . And although it ’s not hard to find colourful - blossom plants for full Sunday , they are more liable to pass quickly or decolour out . Do n’t even get me started on trying to find a plant with chartreuse foliation ( my favourite ) for full - Sunday that wo n’t burn . When I look at photos of Mary Gore ’s garden in our late outcome , I hanker for the shade of my first garden . Mary ’s space proves that refinement can be as coloured as full sun , when you make the proper plant life choices . My jaw dropped when I saw a peony ( ‘ High Noon ’ tree paeony ) in her shady bed !

The old adage that the grass is always greener on the other side is unfeigned . When I had tincture , I wanted sun and vice versa . But I ’m fairly certain that my grass ( and all my other plants ) would in fact be greener if I had just a bit more subtlety .

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