posted
Hi, I am new to the forum! I have a cute little house with a front porch facing north. I have been trying earnestly to create a cottage garden look, natural, unsculpted, perennial, but it is just not working. Partly because I love to be out there in the spring, but once the heat and humidity arives in July (central Connecticut River Valley),I hate to be outside, I become an air condition hound, so the garden gets neglected. It seems as though I need to find some low maintenance shrubs/bushes that tolerate a shady soil, which probably isn't the best,I'd also like color and texture too. It's about 2 - 3 feet to the bottom of the porch, in a single line, although I could add depth. I am so tired of it looking horrible. Please help! Plants: 2 | From: connecticut | Registered: Aug 2003
| Seeded: 67.75.106.77
posted
Hi, welcome! Is this an absolutely "no sun" site? Or is there some morning or afternoon sun? Do you want only perennials? Or Are low maintenance annual plants OK?
* * * *
"He who sees things grow from the begining will have the best view of them" - Aristotle Plants: 788 | From: SW Oregon | Registered: Jul 2003
| Seeded: 207.14.166.127
posted
The left corner gets some late afternoon sun. I think I'm leaning towards bushes, accenting with hosta and possibly a few annuals. I hate to spend the money every year!
Plants: 2 | From: connecticut | Registered: Aug 2003
| Seeded: 67.75.106.250
posted
Different types of hosta will give you pretty textures and color. Also caladiums will add the touch of red. May want to stick in a few ferns. There are perrenial geraniums that like the shade. Depending on how much room and how big of plants you want, daphne a dora's are great. They bloom in February and smell great.
login | 
| 
| 
Printer-friendly view of this garden