Shade Garden

The perennial shade garden can be one of the most intriguing and satisfying garden styles that exist especially if the garden design is conceived in a quality manner.

One not only has to be careful in the selection of shade perennials but the very concept or layout itself.

The following list of shade plants should help in the planning process for your garden.

On a hot and humid summer day all one has to do is walk through a well thought out garden in order to cool off a bit.

These types of gardens should feature a variety of trees and they will cool you off naturally by enveloping you in an invisible blanket of mist.

Yes, through the wonderful process known as transpiration, which is the expelling of water vapor through plant foliage.

One will find the ambient temperatures lower in this beautiful setting.

Among the plants that we feel are some of the very best for this type of garden are the following:

• Astilbe
  
• Bleeding Heart
  
• Ferns
  
• Hosta
  
• Lobelia
  
• Vinca

While on the subject of Vinca we will bring up the merits of both Vinca minor and Vinca major, both of which deserve equal representation in the garden.

We find the necessity to throw in at least one woody ornamental at this point so we choose the highly ornamental Hydrangea to fill that spot.

Can there be such an item as shade bulbs?

You bet there is and among the best are the various members of the Caladium family.

Last but not least do not forget to check out Larry's list of shade ground covers.