The Grove: The Shadier Side of the Yard

Potted Palms hang out in the Grove, my new shade garden.

M Y   G A R D E N — Most of the flower photos I've posted on this blog have been from the sunnier sides of the yard. I've only planted the shady side this year, what I call the Grove in memory of a like-named section of my parent's property, and have been tinkering with it all summer. Most of the perennials were moved here after flowering, so there won't be much to see until next year, but there are a few interesting tableaux.

Dragon Wing Begonia. This plant thrives in filtered sunlight, and absolutely loves its placement this year in the newly landscaped Grove. Mary gave me this "annual" seven years ago. I cut it back and move it indoors each fall and it has done well wherever I've lived. Last winter I left it on the common sun-porch, where it was doing fine until one of the other tenants left the door open for several days, and I didn't notice it in time to close it. This plant and a couple othes were frozen. I brought this plant back to life in the spring from ONE leaf, the only leaf that didn't freeze and die. 

I moved my new pinky-blueish-lavender Hydrangea to this shadier spot in July. Just as Mary said it would, the pale pastel flowers are mellowing to an awesome cranberry color.

Solomon Seals. After doing some reading, I decided to move the Solomon Seals that came up unexpectedly in the new backyard, into my shade garden. The white bell-like flowers have given way to blueberry-like seed pods hanging down on these overgrown Lily-of-the-Valley-like ancient perennials. Make sure to click on these to enlarge them to see these very cool, very plump berries. I'm pretty surprised they've turned such a deep, dark bluish-purple color—the flowers were creamy white.

I also have my Christmas and Thanksgiving cactuses hanging out in this area for the summer. Moving them outside for a few months does wonders for them. I lost my oldest cactus last winter, after several years of declining health. It was 114 years old. The oldest one I have now is a very healthy-looking 92. My Thanksgiving cactus is a baby, it's only 35. I'll post photos of them at a later date. The oldest one is not very large to tell you the truth. It has been pruned and trimmed several times in its life, and has probably made at least fifteen additional plants which have been given to friends through the years.