Garden

[mousiegirl]

Here are a few plants that I bought last year, so this is their first blooming.  Many are still too small, so hopefully next year they will bloom.

[tweets12]

They are beautiful

[Lilysmom]

@mousiegirl, my sister gave me one.  I will have to check it out.  It is an early bloomer here.  Love those!  It is in the hardest to clean bed I have.  It is on a big hill under big oak, maple and birch trees so it is full of leaves.  As much as I hate to clean it, it is so pretty that I keep it going.  

The purple is lovely.  LM

[Trix]

I planted a couple of Hellebores last year as an experiement in my garden to see if how well they do in a mostly shady section of my garden, which is also in the path of salt spray in the winter.  I see one of them has survived winter, but no above ground sign of its companions, but I can feel something when I touch the ground where they are planted.  Perhaps I'll be able to make a better assessment when our weather becomes more consistently spring cool rather than wintry.  If they work out Hellebores are available in several colors and would offer attractive early spring color to this space until it's time for the  begonias and coleus. 

[mousiegirl]

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@Trix wrote:

I planted a couple of Hellebores last year as an experiement in my garden to see if how well they do in a mostly shady section of my garden, which is also in the path of salt spray in the winter.  I see one of them has survived winter, but no above ground sign of its companions, but I can feel something when I touch the ground where they are planted.  Perhaps I'll be able to make a better assessment when our weather becomes more consistently spring cool rather than wintry.  If they work out Hellebores are available in several colors and would offer attractive early spring color to this space until it's time for the  begonias and coleus. 

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@Trix  They do like shade, maybe morning sun, and afternoon shade.  I bought different colors and some with ruffles, darker edges, etc., but they are still small and young, so maybe next year.  I always put young plants in pots and let them grow for a year for a better survival rate once in the ground.

[Lilysmom]

@Trix, when I read your post, I thought primulas would be nice in your spot.  They easily add a lot of color.  Also, have you tried Japanese forest grass, All Gold is my favorite but variegated is nice too.  Very showy all summer long adding vibrant color with little effort.

All Gold is below.  They like afternoon shade.  One of the few perennials that thrive in this conditions.

@mousiegirl, snow tomorrow...LM

[Trix]

@Lilysmom Your photo is beautiful.  My garden space is urban city highrise so the garden design in front is more like what you would see for commercial buildings.  The patio can be more expressive, but I don't have the same lighting issues there.  

I tried Primulas several years ago and they did not work to my satisfaction. I already have ferns in the area, so do not want to add more.  I want something low to the ground as this space is the front row of a large area and the design is a typical short to tall from front to back. I also need the front section to be the flowering part of the space since the hostas, ferns, and the tall shrubs do not.  I can always just continue to use pansies early until it's time for the annuals, but the older I get the fewer annuals I want to bother with.  

@mousiegirl I can't do preseason pots for growing things because I don't want to turn my apartment into a greenhouse. Everything I plant has to start outside and stay outside. 

[Lilysmom]

@Trix, I understand.  The only other thoughts I Have ta the moment would be either carnations or heather.  They are generally low to the ground.  I’ll keep an eye out for candidates as my garden comes alive this spring.  LM

[mousiegirl]

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@Trix wrote:

@Lilysmom Your photo is beautiful.  My garden space is urban city highrise so the garden design in front is more like what you would see for commercial buildings.  The patio can be more expressive, but I don't have the same lighting issues there.  

I tried Primulas several years ago and they did not work to my satisfaction. I already have ferns in the area, so do not want to add more.  I want something low to the ground as this space is the front row of a large area and the design is a typical short to tall from front to back. I also need the front section to be the flowering part of the space since the hostas, ferns, and the tall shrubs do not.  I can always just continue to use pansies early until it's time for the annuals, but the older I get the fewer annuals I want to bother with.  

@mousiegirl I can't do preseason pots for growing things because I don't want to turn my apartment into a greenhouse. Everything I plant has to start outside and stay outside. 

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@Trix  Outside is where I grow all plants, but I start them off in garden center pots or clay pots outside.

[BirkiLady]

@mousiegirl  Have you tried Coral Bells? (Can't remember the latin name. It also begins with an "H")  Lovely colorful leaves from almost black to vivid limes to rusts to deep burgendy and flower stalks about 20-24" high with delicate white or sometimes pink flowers. They are great perennials with year-round interest in some areas. Prefer a partially shady location. I have them with hosta plants, ferns, etc., and am in Zone 5-B.