The biggest part of the 'job' is finished. The compost, mulch, river rock, and field stone are settled in. Already established in the main garden were hosta, lamium, fern, lilies, heuchera, azalea, hellebore, anemone, agastache, 'turtle head', buddleia, and Virginia bluebells. I divided lots of large hosta from the side yard and placed them in the new garden areas as well as fern and lamium. Hosta, fern and lamium all divide very easily for me.
Newer plants that I added this year in the spring were: pulmonaria, bleeding heart, and tiarella (all of which I was inspired to plant by Shady Gardener (Does Everything Grow Better in my Neighbor's Yard?) Then more recently I added some coleus, hydrangea, a lilac bush (shade tolerant), gaura, and cranesbill geranium (Rozanne).
In pots within the garden area, I planted hosta, fern and lamium (a very nice combination in a pot, which Melanie (Old Country Gardens) demonstrates quite well.) In other pots I placed a varied combo of lavender, buddleia (small specimens), salvia & petunia (both of which I grew from seed!), lantana, English daisy, and yarrow.
You might have noticed that there are sun-loving and shade-loving plants 'mixed together'--but I assure you that most of these can survive a variety of conditions! Patsi (Garden Endeavors) just did a wonderful post on how the labeling of "shade" conditions can be so diverse (ie: shade, part shade, part sun, dense shade, etc)!
In future posts I will try to 'zoom in' on how these shade/sun plants can actually live in harmony with each other in my own garden and climate, here in zone 7B, in northern virginia. I will post photos of these plants up close. *I'm currently on vacation, using my husband's computer with a 'cell card' to connect to the internet, thus I am unable to upload any photos from my own computer:-(
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BUT, this lake vacation sure is a lovely break for us!! The other night we were out on our boat and the sky was lit up with pinks and blues...and I captured some shots that I will share in my next post! Stay tuned...
--Today I am thankful for plants that thrive in shade, sun and sometimes both!
(Still limping, still achy & taking doxycyclene...) but I know things are looking up;-)
It looks just wonderful Jan. What a nice oasis you and your husband have created.
ReplyDeleteIt is absolutely gorgeous! I'm sure it took a great deal of vision and dreaming to picture what you wanted as an end result.
ReplyDeleteYour varied use of materials give the garden lovely bones. Well done!!
Jan, you have done amazing job on the backyard. I wish I had you as a neighbor so that we could compare notes. Fabulous job it's relaxing just looking at the photos.
ReplyDeleteOMG
ReplyDeleteWOW !!!!
That's a backyard ?
Looks like a resort !!
I want to stay awhile... :)
Lovely Jan.
Super super job !!
Did I say I want to stay ? :)
Well done! Enjoy your vacation! :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
The garden is looking lovely and vibrant comes to mind when I look at your photos.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely relaxing break you both desrve it after all that hard work and ill health.
Looks so lovely. There is just something refreshing and relaxing about a shade garden.
ReplyDeleteIt turned out so wonderful Jan. I just love the layout and the beds. So inviting looking it makes you want to stroll through it. Great job.
ReplyDeleteGood job! Jan, It looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteDonna
You did a fabulous job! Everythings so serene and beautiful! I would love to visit it! -Jackie
ReplyDeleteIt really looks amazing. Last weekend I went on a tour of gardens and yours looks like it could have been one of them.
ReplyDeleteJan, you have created a wonderful area in your garden. I'm sure all the aches and pains were worth it.
ReplyDeleteYou & Hubby did a great job on the backyard project. Everything looks so lush & healthy. It's been so hot & dry here that I envy the shade you have in your garden. Can't wait to see how everything settles in over the next few months. :)
ReplyDeleteA well deserved vacation, dear Jan ... your garden is stunning! Rest that ankle ... I travel back & forth with my soft cast and am doing better though a bit of a set back overdoing this week. Family just left after sunset dinner here at lake ... back home tomorrow to tend home/garden then back for a 10 day stay ... yea!
ReplyDeleteJan, What a peaceful-looking garden with lots of interesting corners to explore. I love all your trees. Congratulations on completing your project.
ReplyDeleteThat looks wonderful!! A great place to hang out in summer.
ReplyDeleteJust lovely....It feels good to have a project completed! Gail
ReplyDeleteWhat an impressive job. You must be very pleased with the result!
ReplyDeleteIt looks beautiful! I love the stone path and planter, everything. Great job :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you're relaxing!
Lovely garden, I love your landscape, especially the wooden trail and stepping stone.
ReplyDeleteJan, I can imagine...wait, I KNOW how much work this involved..You have a great team-mate there and the result is just perfect!! Hope those achy muscles (and your foot!) are back to normal! Sit back and enjoy :)
ReplyDeleteLynn
This is beautiful, Jan! I really like all the paths, and it looks so cool and peaceful. I know you are going to enjoy spending lots of time here. I hope you and your family are enjoying your vacation!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful serene space. And it looks so natural; not like it was just planted. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThat is AMAZING! I LOVE IT! (I can feel my green eyed monster rearing its ugly head! LOL J/K
ReplyDelete: )
great job
Wonderful yard! Everything looks so lavish! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. My kids would love those little pathways and stepping stones. It must have been a lot of hard work.
ReplyDeleteYour backyard is a spectacular retreat. It looks like a cool and refreshing place to be on a hot summer's day.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful, Jan! Both of you have done a fantastic job. I really, really like what you have done. It all looks so good together.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely very cool... as Patsi put it, more of a resort.
ReplyDeleteWorth all the effort Jan...,
~ bangchik
Your backyard is a lovely, shady respite for a hot summer day! Beautiful, and worth all the work.
ReplyDeleteThe garden is looking wonderful and a lake vacation sounds like bliss.
ReplyDeleteWOW, that's all I've got to say. So beautiful xx
ReplyDeleteNow, you are enjoying the results of all that work!
ReplyDeleteMy dear, dear friend,
ReplyDeleteI have been thinking about you the past days and said this morning to my self - I have to go to Jane´s blogg.
And when I open my computer here you were at my blog, Thank you.
Now I have been looking through everthing I have missed and you have done a BIG Great job in your garden.
MB- will send my adress again.
Do you still feel the foot you hurted or is it all right, MB
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Put a hammock in the middle of this and you can live there through most of the summer months. I think this would be beautiful with some lights in the evening--- do you do outdoor lighting?
ReplyDeleteImpressive job.
Your backyard is stunning! And thanks for sharing your plant combinations and sources! Your blog is always so informative.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, Jan! You and your better-half did a fantastic job. I was waiting to see this end result and god am I flummoxed! It's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great looking backyard! Gorgeous! I am amazed at how inviting a shady yard can look like.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you had a wonderful vacation on the lake!
Wow i like that garden really
ReplyDeletei always like taking new ideas and imposing them on my garden
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