"Even casual study of an ecosystem reveals an abiding truth - that the relationships between things are as important as the things themselves. Living things have meaning in terms of what they do. Life does not know the dancer from the dance."
from: Eastern Deciduous Forest by Robert Q. Petty
Although many people regard shady areas as problems for nice gardens, just the opposite is usually true. You need not be stuck with the drabness and predictability of hostas, astilbes, pachysandra and vinca. In most cases, a shady area can offer a quiet place for relaxation and contemplation - a sacredness - because of its inherent ability to calm you and put you at ease.
Shade gardens work best if the shade is produced by deciduous trees - ones that lose their leaves in the fall - and not by a building or large spruce. (Planting around a Norway maple is also difficult because the shade produced is so intense and the soil becomes depleted of nutrients.)
Rich soil and shade from oaks make this an ideal garden. The beds were defined by laying out the paths. See how lush and alive this cool-looking garden is! There will be a continuation of blooms all year.
click for moreImagine patches of light playing on the ground as the sun travels across the sky. In the early spring, before the trees leaf out, the woods are alive with a symphony of color and interest. Many of the plants bloom early and then disappear. These are the spring ephemerals.
The rich soil of this shade garden supports flowers, grasses and sedges. The flowers in bloom are woodland/wild blue phlox.
Here is another shade garden in Wildwood, a suburb of Chicago.
A cool, quiet get-away
Maturing plants
A Shaded Lot in Riverwoods. IL
The owner wanted the woods restored with sculpture and rock features added. At right: owner-designed rock pile feature.
See how the plants in this same garden have matured and filled in a year later.
A Wet, Shady Garden in Riverside, IL
This garden area receives water from a downspout and sump pump, so has two levels - one for rain garden plants and one for shade.
The rain garden is planted with sedges and other moisture-loving plants.
The shady side yard was once filled with buckthorn and weeds. The garden is now two years old.
A Lightly Shaded Front Yard in LaGrange, IL
The front yard of an average home in LaGrange has been turned into a cozy sanctuary by adding shade-loving native plants and a bench.
An attractive-looking native plant garden on the shady side of the house
A Light Shade Garden in Evanston, IL
Notice the stonework that supports this raised bed. The split makes a welcome entrance.
Another view of the stonework and raised bed.
The garden to the right is a rain garden, featuring plants that prefer to be wet. It is fed by water from the garage's downspout.
A Tiny shade Garden in downtown Chicago
a unique north side shade garden
Bird feeders and a viewing bench complete the garden.
Spring Ephemerals and Woodland Flowers
Others keep their nice foliage until fall, like Virginia waterleaf, wild geranium (right) and wild ginger. Not a whole lot blooms in the summer, because of the rich, dark leaf cover, but bugbane, goatsbeard, woodland sunflower and blue lobelia add great interest, color and focus.
Goatsbeard can get almost 4-5 feet tall in the shade and has nice flowers. It adds summer excitement to the shade garden.
In the fall, the many goldenrods and asters, snakeroot and mistflower make the garden come alive again with color. Also, it is in the fall that the leaves on the woodland trees and shrubs turn gold, red and rust, while purple and red berries become available to feed the birds. The rich crimson leaves of the Virginia creeper vines (at left) signal the forest animals and birds that its berries are ready for them to feast on.
Our collection of woodland/shade plants also includes:
(Click on photos for more plant information )
Ferns
Spiderwort 
Woodland Sunflower
Our availability list is extensive. We grow many native varieties you cannot get anywhere. If you don't see what you want, just ask. We may have it available later in the season or may be able to get it for you.
