Oh! That looks so cool and inviting!

Karen- do you grow your coleus from seed, or do you purchase them as plants every year?

Trish both!

I have grown them from seed, and many are beautiful. The problem is that I don't have much of any true shade in my yard. All areas get sun at some time of day. That might be fine in a cool climate, but we have hot, hot summers. None of the seed grown ones tolerate my sun, including the Versa series, touted to be the first sun-tolerant coleus from seed.

The truly sun tolerant ones are vegetatively propagated. I've bought most of mine from Rosy Dawn Gardens, and their plants are wonderful! I've also gotten some from generous gardeners, either as cuttings or seedlings. Then, in fall, I take cuttings and start new ones to over winter in the house.

Coleus are wonderfully tough plants, except if given too much sun (for those that aren't sun tolerant). A reputable breeder should tell you which are sun tolerant. Highly recommended!
http://rosydawngardens.com/

Karen

Good tips, Karen- thanks!

A few sedum for the fall? My dwarf 'Blue Mouse' grew quite a bit this yr. The omnipresent 'Autoumn Joy' can take more sun, I think. The thing is they are a nice green during most of the summer when there is other color & the floweretts color up when you need it in Sept. here.

gorgeous Karen -- as usual!!

I think i'm trying to get more into grasses for shade.

My hostas took a slight beating with hail a month or so ago, so i never got good pics. *sigh*

Oh! I'm excited about this forum, I have an entire shade garden (aka: party central). It is completely shaded by the canopy of 5 trees that surround it. I have one wall that gets partial sun, so that allows for a little more variety. Karen, your coleus are stunning! I've got a couple in my shade garden, but now I'm inspired to add more! I'll post some pics soon... looking forward to seeing what you all are doing with your shade!

Fantastic option for moderator, Trish!!

I'm looking now at a mimosa Doug provided me, hoping it would get a little higher than 5' so it would colour my returning outdoor patio from this extreme KY This summer sun.

Hi Dion.
I love the mimosa we planted out front. It sure took awhile for it to get going, but is now providing wonderful shade for that part of the house. I love that they are deciduous so winter sun can warm that area.

How big is your tree now?

Looking forward to seeing lots of new to me ideas about shade gardening. I have a newly devoted woodland garden under fir trees. It's pretty untamed looking...because of my gardening style. Did have a patch of edible morel mushrooms come up this spring. Is that too wild?

Hi Jewell,
What a wonderful woodland you must have, and mushrooms too.
I used to live in Big Valley, just outside Poulsbo. Best mushroom hunting ever. Sure miss that.
What else do you have growing in your woodland?

Lynn,
First beds last year got my hosta collection started. I have moved ten sword ferns around the east and south side edges, with a couple of skimmia. Probably a mistake, but I love these native ferns and they were over running my cottage garden. The boundaries have ivy hedge on three sides. Also have a variety of other ferns (painted, christmas, holly, cinnamon, Hart's tongue, tassel, maiden hair...did I mention I like ferns ). My ground covers are pacific bleeding hearts, Soleirolia soleirolii, ajuga, sweet woodruff and moss. I am trying jack-in-pulpit, and toad lilies for the first time. Have the usual trillium, hellebore, Oshima Sedge, calla lily, pieris japonica, primrose, oregon grape and volunteer columbine. The British Columbia ginger has really taken off.

I am sure I will be moving plants around as they reach maturity and until I get the look I want. I think most of my beds and paths are laid, but thinks have been known to move. here are a few of the new beds. We are using branches to help define the beds and also laid branches inside the beds to train the dogs not to play in them.

Looks and sounds most interesting! Have fun...

Jewell, I love the way you used branches to define the beds and protect them at the same time. What an amazing list of plants. I look forward to seeing it when more mature, it will be lovely and interesting.
I wonder if some of the native columbine would work?

I did a little assessment of the garden and see that after 25 years of growth on the trees my sun plants have dwindled even though the garden faces south. The shade plants particularly the hosta are thriving. The hydrangea are looking magnificent. I say hello to shade gardening and shade gardeners. Looking forward to making some additions for the right conditions. Dragon wing begonias & coleus are a staple in my summer garden and this year I will add Lavender Mona, and Fuschia gartmeister for the hummers. What are your favorite shade annuals & perennials that are butterfly and hummingbird attracters for container gardening? Might try begonia bonfire if I can find it around town.

Does anyone have Encore Azaleas? Have they been blooming all summer for you? Are they a nice landscape plant for the front entry?

Susan, when Encore Azaleas came to this area they were 39.95 for a two gal pot just like the Knockout roses! I got several knockout roses from mail order but have never had to opportunity for the Encore Azaleas. Now I don't have room unless something dies. Funny I never hear anything or see pictures on the forum, maybe they are not worth the hype they gave them when they came out, mostly marketing.
I love Coral bells, Solomon's seal, Hosta, Lace leaf maples, and I am trying Calla lilies this year, I don't know if they will bloom but I love the Foliage.

Our little coral bells 'firefly' is trying to bloom. Perhaps the rain overnight will push it along.

Lynn, I love columbine and have lots of volunteers blooming at this time. Unfortunately I don't have any of the orange natives. this is my favorite shade bloomer at the moment.