Got Shade A Take It Easy Approach for Todays Gardener

"A masterpiece, full of charm and humor." --Dr. Rebecca W. Dolan, Director, Friesner Herbarium, Butler University

Whether it's urban, suburban, or rural, nearly every property has some shade, if only on the north side of the house. Countless more are "blessed" with giant trees planted decades ago that screen out the sunlight. Under such conditions, you may think that it's impossible to have an interesting garden without a lot of work. Not so if you are willing to learn about the plethora of easygoing horticultural gems that don't require full sun.

Most gardeners think only of impatiens and hostas for their shady areas, but shade gardening can be far more interesting, and even exciting--and you need not work too hard at it if you incorporate some lesser-known but easy-to-grow plants into your landscape. Judiciously mixing the common plants with the more unusual ones can help the busy, tired, or lazy gardener create a special and unique retreat.

Carolyn Harstad, author of the best-selling Go Native!, organizes this book around the principle that an interesting shade garden is well balanced and has a variety of plantings. Early chapters focus on designing the low-maintenance garden. Further chapters discuss small trees, shrubs, dwarf conifers, vines, ground covers, ferns, grasses, perennials, woodland wildflowers, spring bulbs, and annuals (yes, there are annuals that enjoy shade!).

She discusses hundreds of shade-tolerant plants hardy in Zones 4-8, suggests how they may be used and combined, and recommends methods to reduce garden maintenance--a universal concern in this fast-paced world. With its informative text, accurate drawings, and colorful photographs, this book is a "must have" for gardeners across much of North America.

""This is the best new book on shade since George Schenk's classic The Complete Shade Gardener."" --Fine Gardener Indiana University Press

"This is an exciting book for gardeners tired of ubiquitous hostas and ferns in shade gardens." --Library Journal

"With its informative text, accurate drawings, and colorful photographs, this book is a 'must have' for gardeners across much of North America." --Booked Solid with Virginia C

Master Gardener, nature photographer, and popular lecturer, Carolyn Harstad is a member of the Garden Writers Association of America and a Landscape Design Consultant. She lives in Minneapolis.

Jean Vietor graduated from Indiana University in Fine Art. She has exhibited mostly nature paintings for 33 years. Her mediums include: watercolor, transparent acrylic, acrylic on canvas, computer art, and polymer clay art.

Preface: Using This Book

Acknowledgments

1. My Garden--Wild, but Civilized

2. How to "Take It Easy" and Still Make it Zing!

3. Garden Jewels: Small Trees for Shade

4. Best Friends: Shrubs for Shade

5. Good Things in Small Packages: Dwarf Conifers for Shade

6. Onward and Upward: Vines for Shade

7. Nature's Carpet: Ground Covers for Shade

8. Softly Elegant: Ferns for Shade

9. Upstanding Citizens: Grasses and Grass-Like Plants for Shade

10. Indispensable Allies: Perennials for Shade

11. Natural Beauty: Woodland Wildflowers for Shade

12. Incredible Packaging: Spring Bulbs for Shade

13. ...And the Last Shall Be First: Annuals for Shade

14. Final Thoughts: Not Just for Shade

Resources

References

Index