When I first started gardening, I felt like all I wanted to do was plant bright, happy flowers. Shade gardens seemed a little too sleepy to me. With a little more garden experience, (we won’t talk about how much) I have come to absolutely LOVE a shade garden. They can be just as showy as a flower bed, albeit in a subtler way. At least, from a distance. Get up close to a shade garden, and see the incredible textures, colors and nuances that a sun garden can’t match. And a shade garden offers you a feeling of serenity. Maybe that “experience” makes us look a little closer for the details… It’s not all about the big picture. Ah, wisdom.

‘Bressingham Gardens‘ has some amazing examples of color and contrast in the shade garden. Above, see how simply using different colors of the same plant, Hostas, creates contrast, while also creating unity. I love how the Hostas just lead your eye through the garden, like a river. Mass plantings are very effective when used this way. Below, bright green Japanese Hakone grass and deep purple Heuchera set each other off with their contrast in color, and in leaf form. Notice again, the mass plantings flow along like a river, leading the eye. This is also a great way to cover the soil beneath a small tree. Bressingham Gardens photos by Richard and Adrian Bloom.

 

‘Lonny‘ shows us how using just one contrasting color in the garden gives us pause, and is an effective design tool in getting our attention. That isn’t the only thing going on here, though. Ferns have long been used next to Hostas, because their fine foliage contrast with the broad, smooth leaves of the Hostas… Instant interest.

 

‘The Gardening Cook‘ brings us this photo from ‘Earth Wood and Flowers’. Another technique for enjoying the serenity of a shade garden is to simply place an area to pause, like a bench or seat. It gives the space a focal point, and creates a feeling of rest. It also allows the viewer to get a little closer to the details of the shade garden.

 

‘Country Woman Magazine‘ has another idea for a serene garden spot.. A fire pit! When you create a serene resting area like this, the shade garden itself can be simple, such as these mass planted Hostas.  Fun fact: I was ‘Country Woman’s’ home decorating expert back in the early 2000’s! Great mag!

 

‘HGTV Gardens‘ uses a piece of art to create a focal point in a shade garden… combined with out next tip… Using a path to lead you through a space that deserves a casual stroll and close up admiration!

 

Our next two ideas for using a path through a garden are from ‘BHG‘. This first one ends at a small seating area, giving you a destination to walk to. I love how they use layers of height in this garden to give it depth. The taller trees, then the understory small trees, then shrubs, then perennials. Great design plan!

 

This is what happens when a walking path and natural stone get married and have a baby. Bliss. Note how they used a shade loving ground cover (in this case, Sweet Woodruff) to soften the edges, just spilling over the stones.

 

A shade garden doesn’t have to be all green, either! This garden from ‘BHG’ shows us how bright flowers can be used to add color. These are Astilbe in pinks and reds. Astilbe are easy to grow, but like rich moist soil and dappled shade the best. Most varieties bloom early summer.

Inspired? If you thought of that dull shady spot in your garden as a problem before today, hopefully you have a new view on it now!