Congrats on the seedlings. I just learned about the yellow ones recently and might have to make room for some. The purple-spotted varieties are really cute. I think toad lilies should be planted so that you can appreciate the flowers up close.

Speaking of pink: Has anyone grown clarkias in woodland-like areas? I read a report or two that said they did okay in shade, and I had plenty of seed so I sprinkled some mountain garland and godetia types in areas that get morning sun and then mostly shade just to see what'll happen. But I think the area where my dicentras are growing is a bit too shady for them--but they are close to the deck in a high-traffic area, so we'll be able to see toad lilies fine.

You know, Chelle, I read "wildflowers" in your post instead of "windflowers" first time around. So those grow well in shade, too?

loves - they sure are pretty. Annuals, right?

Yes, clarkias are annuals that can apparently reseed pretty well, too. So we'll see.

lovesblooms said:You know, Chelle, I read "wildflowers" in your post instead of "windflowers" first time around. So those grow well in shade, too?

Yes. Almost too well; unless you don't mind an extra bit of trimming or pulling here and there. Mine are under and behind a grove of small leaved trees; it's not dark (roses get by in that area, too), but there's just a couple of hours of early evening sun, other than whatever filters through the tree canopies.

I grew clarkias in that same area one year, too. They bloomed okay, but they needed support. Mine just kind of flopped over their neighbors, but they were still beautiful.

Good to know, thanks! I have some extra clarkia, so I'll sprinkle and wait! Maybe next year I'll get a bunch of windflowers, too. I just planted variegated solomon's seal behind the dicentras, can't wait for it to "take" and start filling in some. It's beautiful. I don't mind floppy as long as I can get some late season color over there. The dicentras are in a highly visible spot every time we come out on the deck and are very pretty--but there's a bare spot in front and behind them that's been irritating me, and then they themselves start drooping in summer so that whole spot just goes flat except a couple of astilbes. So I filled in the "behind" spot with solomon's seal and maybe some clarkia will fill in the spaces if it will grow, and I'll dig the toad lilies in among the dicentras to rise up when they go flat. Now I just need a pretty low growing highlight in front of them. Right now it's impatiens. Maybe a mix of bright colored heucheras eventually. I've found heuchera from seed are fun and often true color-wise, although I know the genes are probably mixed.

I'd use ferns to fill in if I could remember to water them. The fern I bought two years ago didn't make it through the summer--probably not enough watering. If I had some special ones I'd be more likely to remember, lol.

OK- I'm bad. I just happened to receive a GC from Romence Gardens for M-Day and just bought myself a yellow Trycirtis. You all are great enablers!

If I'm a great enabler, than I refuse to believe I've enabled you to do anything bad, lol! That was nothing I wouldn't do myself, so it had to be good!

Shadegardener said:OK- I'm bad. I just happened to receive a GC from Romence Gardens for M-Day and just bought myself a yellow Trycirtis...

That's great!

How were their shipping rates? I've never ordered there yet because every time I look it seems unreasonable...something like two-thirds again the price of my order.

They have flat rate shipping on most items for $9.95 per order. On a $50 order, that's not bad at all compared to some other nurseries. I did receive an order from them a couple of weeks ago - my first. I will say that the plants were very good, much larger than Bluestone and seemed very happy. Dicentra 'Aurora' was still in bloom when I received it but the pasque flower had just finished blooming. They are packed extremely well so worth the price of shipping. I was going to visit the nursery last week when I was up in MI but ran out of time.

Wow! Thanks! I'll definitely check them out again!

My pasque flowers died over the winter, so I'm in the market for them...again.

Oh - don't tell me your pasque flower died. I had one years ago and it did okay - bloomed for two years - and I decided to move it to a shadier spot, having read that it can take shade. Bad move. I did learn that they're more of a prairie plant and want some sun so vowed to treat the new one better. Right now, it's getting rained on after being planted in a mostly sun spot.

I planted out two late last year, but they shriveled up and disappeared soon after the snow melted this spring. I'm guessing they went in way too late, but I don't really know. It could just as well be a case of putting them in a too well-draining area. It was pretty much just gravel scree.

...meant to add a good luck with yours, but my fingers got away from me!

As fast as last winter came, maybe it was just a timing thing. I'm hoping the cooler weather this week will allow it time to acclimate.

I think so too. We had that super cold weather well before snow cover arrived, and that was probably a big factor. The lines to my washing machine froze early and often at the beginning of last winter, so I know it was really bad. The lines never froze during the worst of the really, really terrible winter before last, but we had lots of snow early that stayed.
One notable exception are some extra TB iris pieces that I tossed on top of a mound of yard dirt and gravel in like, early October(?). This spring the entire rhizomes were showing, along with the tops of the roots, and not a one of those hardy little plants died!

Irises are can sometimes be tough, sometimes be picky. I have German irises around 18 years old. I've moved them, divided them, given some away. I started with 2 and still have 10 or so. All the same color - dark violet/purple. The ones that consistently bloom are planted in a shady corner, up against the cement block foundation where they get no rain. Strange to me. I've heard that if planted a little too deep that they will "find" the correct growing depth eventually.

You can also look at the multi-plant photos in any of the dicentra database entries, there are some lovely combinations to be found there.