Flowers for Shade Gardens

Flower Plants for the Shade

Ever since gardens began the value of shade as a means of refreshment to man has been recognized, all manner of devices, from the natural to the sheer artificial, being employed to create it. Only in the failure to make the most of existing shade has there been a lamentable lack of recognition.

There is a feeling that flowers and shade will not go hand in hand. The feeling is so strong that when flowers are found growing in garden shade it is usually through neglect rather than intelligent intent.

Full sunshine and the open sky are essential to gardens only in a general way. Nature shows that many of her most beautiful gardens are partially shaded; not a few have a leafy screen between them and the sun the livelong day.

Shade, in some measure, is as grateful to numerous cultivated flowers as it is to man. Having had it naturally, they crave it in the garden even though they are frequently good natured enough to live happily without it.

The deliberate planning of any scheme intended to make for shade should therefore not leave flowers out of complete consideration. No matter what the degree of shade, something there is that will find a particular spot congenial.

To make the point of complete consideration more clear, it is not enough to grow roses, wistaria or honeysuckle over a pergola or arbor, with perhaps a hardy border outside where there is a sunny exposure. So far as the flowers are concerned these are sun propositions. The important thing to learn is that other flowers may flourish in the created shady places flowers that will utilize waste spaces and sometimes prove no more trouble than grass or weeds; for something must grow in them, be sure of that. Call the pergola or arbor such if you will; but let it be secondarily a shaded garden.

So, in a wider sense, with the whole place. If the garden proper be endowed with shade, necessarily or preferably, seize upon its shade advantages and develop them to the utmost. Or it may be that shade is upon one side of the garden, or the garden leads into shrubbery or thin woodland ; then follow out the same idea. But do not overlook the lesser possibilities. Once a very pretty little shade garden not more than ten feet long and three feet wide was made along the stone foundation on the north side of the house. Though it had the sun only a little while in the morning, a couple of dozen kinds of native plants flourished there. No possibility is too small; there are plenty of them under trees, between shrubs or in the shadow of hedges and buildings.

Thin woodland on the outskirts of the home grounds is the finest of all opportunities, for the reason that here there may be a liberal planting of appropriate flowers in a fashion approximating nature. In England there are woodland gardens of the rarest charm, but wholly unstudied appearance, and in them it is easier to find some of the choice American plants than at home. Here, fortunately, there is an awakening and in a few instances most praiseworthy efforts have been made to bring naturalistic shade gardens to a high degree of perfection.

The list of flowers that may be drawn upon for shaded gardens is far longer than is supposed. Few, for example, take into account the fact that it is made materially more numerous by a small host of spring flowers that may be said to flourish in the shade, though they bloom in full sunshine in precisely the same spot. This is a most important point to understand; many plants like to grow under deciduous trees and shrubs, where they may bloom in full sunshine before the foliage is out on the branches over their heads. The remainder of the season they are shade-loving, or at any rate shadeenduring.

Plant always in irregular colonies, even in a square foot or two of waste dooryard space, excepting in the rare instances when such a space as the inner line of a pergola, or parts of a formal garden, would seem to make conventionality desirable. Shaded gardens, as a rule, ought to be naturalistic.

Other Plants for Shade

For early spring, when branches are still leafless or nearly so, there is nothing more beautiful than several forms of the hardy primrose ([[Primula]]). The loveliest is the English primrose (P. Vulgaris) which has been slow making its way here, considering the fact that it is one of England's commonest wildflowers and that with a proper degree of moisture and summer shade it is quite hardy here. The cowslip (P. Veris), the oxlip (P. Elatior), any yellow polyanthus (P. Polyantha) and the Japanese primrose (P. Japonica) are easier of culture and also are in every way desirable for massing on any scale. The pink P. cortusoides Sieboldii and P. farinosa, the lilac P. denticulata, the violet P. capitata and the (type) P. auricula are finely suited for shaded gardens but require more care.

Of the spring bulbs there are the snowdrop, [[Siberian squill]], glory-of-the-snow, [[grape hyacinth]], wood hyacinth, common hyacinth, [[crocus]], [[tulip]], crown imperial, [[daffodil]] and guinea-hen flower that may be planted where shade comes later. Any of them will grow in the thin grass under the trees of an old orchard and all are the better for a ground cover. This need not be grass and as a rule would better not be, though daffodils look particularly well in it. Snowdrops, for example, will come up through a carpet of periwinkle or bishop's weed, Siberian squill and lily-of-the-valley may be used together for double-cropping shaded ground, tulips thrive among ferns and so on. Avoid all double forms and bizarre color notes in naturalistic planting. Red is not a spring color in the North ; so beware of red tulips. The best tulips are the yellow species and the cottage white and yellow selfs; the best daffodils the yellow trumpet and the poet's narcissus.

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Perennials for Shade

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadnsis) which naturalizes well in rocky places, is excellent for early spring; so are Dutchman's breeches (Dielytra cucullaria) and Squirrel corn (D. Canadensis). Then there are the foam flower (Tiarella cordifolia) , heart-leaved saxifrage (Saxifraga cordifolia), London pride (S. Umbrosa), blue bugle (Ajuga genevensis) white bugle (A. Reptans alba), liverwort (Hepatka triloba), white stonecrop (Sedum album) and, later, the perennial forget-me-not (Myos otis semperflorens) for similarly carpeting the ground. The first three lose their foliage after blooming; so may be double-cropped with ferns and other plants.

For higher growth a foot or so in partial shade the wild sweet-william (P. Divaricata), sweet woodruff (Asperula odorata), Greek valerian { (Polemonium reptans), common American columbine (Aquilegia canadense) and Pennsylvanian ane'mone (A. Pennsylvanica) are admirable when spring is getting ready to merge into summer; closed gentian (Gentiana Andrewsii) in September and the evergreen Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) and Pachysandra terminalis the year round.

The pink, white or yellow foxgloves, which are glorious on the edge of thin woods, for June; monkshood (Aconitum napellus) and cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), for late summer, and Japanese toad lily (Tricyrtis hirta) and Japanese anemone (A. Japonica) for early autumn are fine for still higher growth.

Other plants that may be grown in more or less shade are three of the best day lilies, Funkia subcordata, F. coerulea and F. Fortunei; the big bleeding-heart (Dielytra spectabilis) and the little one

(D. Formosa), banebery (Actaea spicata), May apple (Podophyllum peltatum), snakeroot (dmicifuga racemosa) and false Solomon's seal (Smilacina racemosa) .

Shrubs that Love Shade

Good [[shrubs]] are all the native [[rhododendrons]], laurels and [[azaleas]], which do better with the protection ; Cornus florida and the shad bush (Amelanchier canadensis).

Lilies for Shade

Last, but not least, the true lilies. Some of the best of them like partial shade and low growth covering the ground around them as well. Moreover these look better so placed than in any other way. Such lilies include L. speciosum, L. superbum, L. longiflorum, L. auratum and L. tenui folium.

To return to the matter of double-cropping, see that shaded ground is covered in summer unless tree or shrub branches are so low as to do this. There are combinations for all places even those where grass refuses to grow.

Planning the Home Garden

If one's place is but a small area of so many dozen square yards, it is great fun to do one's own planning, and little can go wrong. Should the place be more pretentious, running to one or two acres, it might be money in one's pocket to consult a landscape gardener, or an experienced nurseryman or designer. There are several excellent books, too,

If one's place is but a small area of so many dozen square yards, it is great fun to do one's own planning, and little can go wrong. Should the place be more pretentious, running to one or two acres, it might be money in one's pocket to consult a landscape gardener, or an experienced nurseryman or designer. There are several excellent books, too, that can be referred to, and from which valuable information can be got on the laying out of your home grounds.

The first considerations in the composition of a garden or the grounds about one's place are Privacy, Variety, Shelter, Balance.

The planning and arrangement of the features of a garden or of the grounds about the house should be as carefully considered as the choice and placing of the furniture in one's home, or the choosing of a suit of clothes, or a dress to wear. The same idea holds, namely, the planning of a suitable, agreeable, comfortable composition. The garden has been called the outdoor drawing-room.

The arrangement of the drives and the grading of the [[lawns]], the [[drainage]] when necessary, and the arrangement of the buildings and outhouses should all be preconceived and settled in an orderly, economical manner. As far as possible there should be no mistake about the main, permanent features. The minor features may be changed quite a great deal in the coming years and almost surely will, as new ideas and points of view assert themselves. This changing of the minor features is a part of the recreation of gardening. Thus one may considerably alter the contour of a shrubbery border, or may indeed eliminate it altogether. The same holds good of [[flower beds]] and [[borders]], which are easily altered, removed or added to; but with large trees or the heavier groups of [[shrubs]] the expense of removal and shifting prohibits this being done except out of dire necessity.

Where one has the choice of building one's house or choosing its location, the best aspect for it is where the front porch faces southeast; another good position is facing due south. In any case, as everybody likes abundant sunshine or ought to, see to it that the windows and living rooms face in the direction of abundant light. Those places that are hidden beneath a dense canopy or half a forest of trees may suit, and do suit, some folks, but actual layout of a backyard garden fenced, on lot 30x100 ft. Standard Apple, Plum and Pear trees were planted around the divisional fences. They did not unduly shade the hardy flowers. The smooth gravel path terminated in an arbor, over which [[Roses]], [[Ivy]] and [[Clematis]] grew. [[Rhododendrons]], evergreens, hardy Heaths, Viburnums, etc., with bulbs between, were used on the right hand border. There was a sun parlor at the back of the house. The garden lay due south they are terribly depressing to the great majority of us, besides being, one should imagine not conducive to health. Light, air, freedom, are good watchwords for the builder and planner.

Character can be given to an entrance by simply having two ornamental pillars built there, with possibly an iron arch over them. If this is planted with creeping vines and is supported at the sides with groups of evergreens, it adds wonderful dignity and seeming value to the property.

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While winding paths or drives are graceful, they should not ' be made meaninglessly, but are in order where the ground slopes a little or dips, or where irregularity exists. Certainly these can always be added or made in order to get the curved line. Even in small places, as cmplans show, the swinging line of beauty can be had. Straight paths may, however, be more convenient, and can still be tasteful and harmonious. They are undoubtedly neat.

No book can tell the reader exactly what may be the best arrangement for his garden or property. Every garden should have a character of its own, and generally does, unless in the case of the very smallest, where nearly all opportunity for variety is extinguished; yet it is remarkable what can be done on a quarter or an eighth of an acre. We have often seen plots of 30 ft. X 100 ft. Laid out with much variety and taste, and which were full of interest. In those towns and cities of our own country, and in the old countries where the inhabitants, almost to a man, appreciate the elegancies of gardening, the little places exhibit the utmost variety of character in their composition.

It is all too true that thousands of gardens and grounds all around our American homes are bare to desolation. The democratic idea and feeling against planting of hedges and the lining off of one's property makes for deadly uniformity. The arguments that unhedged or unfenced grounds would be contrary to the best artistic conception and treatment of a city or suburb as a whole, ought not to be allowed to sway the property owner from making the most and the best of his own place. There is a school of landscape gardeners and city planners who seem to set their face against this, encouraging the open community type of home grounds. The latter will never get us anywhere as a nation of garden lovers, and almost entirely precludes the practice of the finer gardening. We plead rather to see places nicely hedged or railed off, so that stray dogs and unceremonious persons may be kept at a proper distance, but most of all for the sake of the enjoyment and encouragement of that quiet privacy without which the true pleasures of gardennig cannot be attained.

Which is the best to have a big, bare lawn and a few trees, or an odd group of shrubs here and there, or the trimly hedged and fenced grounds, with flower borders, specimen trees and shrubs, beds and belts of Roses, arches of Roses and

Suburbanllot fenced, on 40x100 ft. A low hedge divided off the vegetable garden. Fruit trees and bushes were lined by the side of this, while pillar Roses, dwarf Roses, neat shrubs and beds of flowers were elsewhere well disposed. The vegetable plot was a model of good cropping, containing Tomatoes, Corn, Beans, Beets, Celery, Carrots, Spinach, herbs and salads. Raspberries lined the fences. This ran east and west other climbers, water basins, an arbor or Rose house where tea or icecream may be partaken in the sunny Summer days.

Haven't you seen many working men's houses just like this gaunt and bare, no neat hedges, no neat lawns, not even a Geranium or a Canna in sight ?

Some shady corner we can enjoy a siesta or a book in the open air?

The fact is we do not make half enough use of the grounds about our homes; they are left blank in most instances. We warmly urge the planting of light screen belts of trees and hedges around the property, which

need not be so dense as to prevent a neighbor or passer-by from enjoying glimpses of your garden. Regel's Privet, California broadleaved Privet, Golden Privet, Hemlock, Arborvitre, Austrian Pine, White Pine, Norway Spruce, Rambler Roses, Ivy, Ampelopsis, Plane trees, Berberis Thunbergii, are among the easily grown subjects that are useful in such screen belts, .and most of which can be increased on one's own place at little expense if the suggestions given in another part of this book are carried out.

The initial expense of planting the outer parts and main features of the grounds or garden need not be large. By the exercise of a little patience one can grow-on a good many things for future developments. Poplars should only be used sparingly. They grow fast, it is true, and for that reason are often employed, and in some places are elegant and pleasant enough, but generally they are "messy," losing their leaves early, and their roots often choke up drains. The almost constant rustling of their leaves and other aspects of the trees are disagreeable to many people.

Make provision for a good space of lawn, and treat the lawn well. Water in motion, as in fountains, is often desirable but is a secondary consideration, just as the number and amount of flower beds or borders is, as also the introduction of rock gardens, arbors and such like. The thing of prime importance is to have the main features properly planned at the outset the garage, the barn, the poultry run, the kitchen or vegetable garden, and the other parts of the place such as have been already spoken of, also the grading and terracing (if any), are among the first matters that require attention. Minor undulations or changes of the surface can be left for a future day. It is not, we repeat, necessary to have a cut and dried plan' from the beginning; far better let it grow with your knowledge of the place. What may be called the adventitious, luxurious or additional features will, practically speaking, take care of themselves. You will gradually come to find out the most appropriate spot for this or that. Do not be in a hurry; allow the place to grow up. It will suit your pocket better and furnish endless recreation and pleasure. It will keep your mind happy and active. You will be interested and learning all the while. This is true gardening, and the meaning and the reward of gardening and garden making.

Some pains should be taken to have clean, well-made paths. Take out 6 in. Or 8 in. Of soil and fill with clinkers, rough ashes or stones, finishing off with smaller stones, bound or rolled in with a little soil. For a strong, permanent road, concrete may be employed. If a cement surface is objected to, gravel can be strewn over before the cement sets, and be rolled in. Grass paths are comfortable and beautiful. Brick is also good. It is well also to have a tile or slate or wooden edging to the paths, as this makes for neatness and easy up-keep.

You will find that by walking around your district or other districts, your walks are as a book; at every turn you will gain some experiences or suggestions that may be modified or adopted with profit on your own grounds.

Lastly, there is no place so unpromising that it cannot, by dint of knowledge, skill, effort and some small financial expenditure, be made a beautiful or trimly garden.

A comfortable home on a public highway in the country. Is the hedge any detraction? On the contrary, does it not bespeak repose and quietude within? It takes little imagination to conjure up a pleasant garden here the fruit trees, the shrubs, the vegetables, the flowers, the children's swing, the rest house, the pretty lawn.

{mosloadposition advert3} that can be referred to, and from which valuable information can be got on the laying out of your home grounds.

The first considerations in the composition of a garden or the grounds about one's place are Privacy, Variety, Shelter, Balance.

The planning and arrangement of the features of a garden or of the grounds about the house should be as carefully considered as the choice and placing of the furniture in one's home, or the choosing of a suit of clothes, or a dress to wear. The same idea holds, namely, the planning of a suitable, agreeable, comfortable composition. The garden has been called the outdoor drawing-room.

The arrangement of the drives and the grading of the [[lawns]], the [[drainage]] when necessary, and the arrangement of the buildings and outhouses should all be preconceived and settled in an orderly, economical manner. As far as possible there should be no mistake about the main, permanent features. The minor features may be changed quite a great deal in the coming years and almost surely will, as new ideas and points of view assert themselves. This changing of the minor features is a part of the recreation of gardening. Thus one may considerably alter the contour of a shrubbery border, or may indeed eliminate it altogether. The same holds good of [[flower beds]] and [[borders]], which are easily altered, removed or added to; but with large trees or the heavier groups of [[shrubs]] the expense of removal and shifting prohibits this being done except out of dire necessity.

Where one has the choice of building one's house or choosing its location, the best aspect for it is where the front porch faces southeast; another good position is facing due south. In any case, as everybody likes abundant sunshine or ought to, see to it that the windows and living rooms face in the direction of abundant light. Those places that are hidden beneath a dense canopy or half a forest of trees may suit, and do suit, some folks, but actual layout of a backyard garden fenced, on lot 30x100 ft. Standard Apple, Plum and Pear trees were planted around the divisional fences. They did not unduly shade the hardy flowers. The smooth gravel path terminated in an arbor, over which [[Roses]], [[Ivy]] and [[Clematis]] grew. [[Rhododendrons]], evergreens, hardy Heaths, Viburnums, etc., with bulbs between, were used on the right hand border. There was a sun parlor at the back of the house. The garden lay due south they are terribly depressing to the great majority of us, besides being, one should imagine not conducive to health. Light, air, freedom, are good watchwords for the builder and planner.

Character can be given to an entrance by simply having two ornamental pillars built there, with possibly an iron arch over them. If this is planted with creeping vines and is supported at the sides with groups of evergreens, it adds wonderful dignity and seeming value to the property.

{mosloadposition advert2}

While winding paths or drives are graceful, they should not ' be made meaninglessly, but are in order where the ground slopes a little or dips, or where irregularity exists. Certainly these can always be added or made in order to get the curved line. Even in small places, as cmplans show, the swinging line of beauty can be had. Straight paths may, however, be more convenient, and can still be tasteful and harmonious. They are undoubtedly neat.

No book can tell the reader exactly what may be the best arrangement for his garden or property. Every garden should have a character of its own, and generally does, unless in the case of the very smallest, where nearly all opportunity for variety is extinguished; yet it is remarkable what can be done on a quarter or an eighth of an acre. We have often seen plots of 30 ft. X 100 ft. Laid out with much variety and taste, and which were full of interest. In those towns and cities of our own country, and in the old countries where the inhabitants, almost to a man, appreciate the elegancies of gardening, the little places exhibit the utmost variety of character in their composition.

It is all too true that thousands of gardens and grounds all around our American homes are bare to desolation. The democratic idea and feeling against planting of hedges and the lining off of one's property makes for deadly uniformity. The arguments that unhedged or unfenced grounds would be contrary to the best artistic conception and treatment of a city or suburb as a whole, ought not to be allowed to sway the property owner from making the most and the best of his own place. There is a school of landscape gardeners and city planners who seem to set their face against this, encouraging the open community type of home grounds. The latter will never get us anywhere as a nation of garden lovers, and almost entirely precludes the practice of the finer gardening. We plead rather to see places nicely hedged or railed off, so that stray dogs and unceremonious persons may be kept at a proper distance, but most of all for the sake of the enjoyment and encouragement of that quiet privacy without which the true pleasures of gardennig cannot be attained.

Which is the best to have a big, bare lawn and a few trees, or an odd group of shrubs here and there, or the trimly hedged and fenced grounds, with flower borders, specimen trees and shrubs, beds and belts of Roses, arches of Roses and

Suburbanllot fenced, on 40x100 ft. A low hedge divided off the vegetable garden. Fruit trees and bushes were lined by the side of this, while pillar Roses, dwarf Roses, neat shrubs and beds of flowers were elsewhere well disposed. The vegetable plot was a model of good cropping, containing Tomatoes, Corn, Beans, Beets, Celery, Carrots, Spinach, herbs and salads. Raspberries lined the fences. This ran east and west other climbers, water basins, an arbor or Rose house where tea or icecream may be partaken in the sunny Summer days.

Haven't you seen many working men's houses just like this gaunt and bare, no neat hedges, no neat lawns, not even a Geranium or a Canna in sight ?

Some shady corner we can enjoy a siesta or a book in the open air?

The fact is we do not make half enough use of the grounds about our homes; they are left blank in most instances. We warmly urge the planting of light screen belts of trees and hedges around the property, which

need not be so dense as to prevent a neighbor or passer-by from enjoying glimpses of your garden. Regel's Privet, California broadleaved Privet, Golden Privet, Hemlock, Arborvitre, Austrian Pine, White Pine, Norway Spruce, Rambler Roses, Ivy, Ampelopsis, Plane trees, Berberis Thunbergii, are among the easily grown subjects that are useful in such screen belts, .and most of which can be increased on one's own place at little expense if the suggestions given in another part of this book are carried out.

The initial expense of planting the outer parts and main features of the grounds or garden need not be large. By the exercise of a little patience one can grow-on a good many things for future developments. Poplars should only be used sparingly. They grow fast, it is true, and for that reason are often employed, and in some places are elegant and pleasant enough, but generally they are "messy," losing their leaves early, and their roots often choke up drains. The almost constant rustling of their leaves and other aspects of the trees are disagreeable to many people.

Make provision for a good space of lawn, and treat the lawn well. Water in motion, as in fountains, is often desirable but is a secondary consideration, just as the number and amount of flower beds or borders is, as also the introduction of rock gardens, arbors and such like. The thing of prime importance is to have the main features properly planned at the outset the garage, the barn, the poultry run, the kitchen or vegetable garden, and the other parts of the place such as have been already spoken of, also the grading and terracing (if any), are among the first matters that require attention. Minor undulations or changes of the surface can be left for a future day. It is not, we repeat, necessary to have a cut and dried plan' from the beginning; far better let it grow with your knowledge of the place. What may be called the adventitious, luxurious or additional features will, practically speaking, take care of themselves. You will gradually come to find out the most appropriate spot for this or that. Do not be in a hurry; allow the place to grow up. It will suit your pocket better and furnish endless recreation and pleasure. It will keep your mind happy and active. You will be interested and learning all the while. This is true gardening, and the meaning and the reward of gardening and garden making.

Some pains should be taken to have clean, well-made paths. Take out 6 in. Or 8 in. Of soil and fill with clinkers, rough ashes or stones, finishing off with smaller stones, bound or rolled in with a little soil. For a strong, permanent road, concrete may be employed. If a cement surface is objected to, gravel can be strewn over before the cement sets, and be rolled in. Grass paths are comfortable and beautiful. Brick is also good. It is well also to have a tile or slate or wooden edging to the paths, as this makes for neatness and easy up-keep.

You will find that by walking around your district or other districts, your walks are as a book; at every turn you will gain some experiences or suggestions that may be modified or adopted with profit on your own grounds.

Lastly, there is no place so unpromising that it cannot, by dint of knowledge, skill, effort and some small financial expenditure, be made a beautiful or trimly garden.

A comfortable home on a public highway in the country. Is the hedge any detraction? On the contrary, does it not bespeak repose and quietude within? It takes little imagination to conjure up a pleasant garden here the fruit trees, the shrubs, the vegetables, the flowers, the children's swing, the rest house, the pretty lawn.

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