Little pretty flowers in shady places.

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At this time of year, I seem to have a real collection of tiny flowering plants hiding under shrubs and trees. They are shy lttle shade lovers, but it’s worth crawling on my hands and knees to look for them, as they are so pretty and delicate.

This is the latest one I found in flower, it’s a hardy Geranium called after Beth Chatto. At the other side of the tree I planted lots of Lilies-of-the-valley plants. They came from the village school fair last May – and I was delighted to find that they are coming up in clumps – I hope they spread, as they have such a delicious fragrance – pretty as well.

At the back of this area I have a miniature variegated ’Solomon’s Seal’ plant, it is on its way up but not quite in flower. There is one more little flower open here, though – Anemone nemorosa ‘Buckland’. Since I took this photo, more flowers have appeared on this lovely plant.

Over at the other side of the garden there are several pretty tinies.
Some are quite hard to spot, like this Corydalis flexuosa.

And the tiny pretty one with the long name – Anemonella thalictroides ‘Rosea’

In this area grows my favourite – Omphalodes cappadocica ‘Cherry Ingram’. I also have two other Omphalodes: O.verna and O.‘Starry Eyes’ in other places in the garden. They all prefer shady conditions.

When I ‘perked up’ the corner of the garden that was a bit lacking in ‘oomph’ I planted some more Anemones, first seen at Holbrook Garden – Anemone ranunculoides. I also tracked down a little gem of a flower; a Hepatica transsilvanica ‘Blue Jewel’.

So when people say there aren’t any pretty plants that will grow in shade, I can prove them wrong, can’t I? it’s not always size that matters, to coin a phrase….

• 25 Apr, 2008
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