Over the weekend I had the opportunity to see the Vancouver Shade Society’s annual show at VanDusen Botanical Gardens. I found myself completely enthralled in the finer details of the colourful foliage and fine quirky flowers. The shade garden has a lot to offer. Most real gems shy away from the sun.
From Staghorn ferns to Campanula ‘Octopus’; from delicate dancing fuchsias to glowing Golden Hakonechloa. The range of plants on display was unique, colourful and eclectic. The shade may be dark, but with many of these colourful plants, it comes alive with light!
This trip to the Shade Show was a helpful dose of inspiration. Back at home I am planning and plotting a shade garden in my own back yard. Using some pretty cool plants like Astilbe and Hosta’s, plus more unique ones like Tricyrtis Toad Lily and Erythronium revolutum Pink Fawn Lily. I have been slowly building a garden. Eating up more and more grass (it didn’t grow well in the shade anyways).
I brought home some great plants from the sale. A beautiful Saxifraga with delicate little flowers followed me home, along with a fantastic shrub for shade Hypericum Androsaemum. The plants were big, happy, healthy and cheap! On top of that I won the raffle! Yours truly brought home 3 miniature hostas, a large semi hardy fuschia and 3 shade related books!
Bring on the shade!
I have just started following you and your blog. Thanks so much for your beautiful pictures!