A Well-Designed Shade Garden

Heather and her daughter enjoying the backyard gardens. Hanging Begonias, Daylilies, Hostas, and Bee Balm add color to this shaded garden bed.Heather and her daughter enjoying the backyard gardens. Hanging Begonias, Daylilies, Hostas, and Bee Balm add color to this shaded garden bed.
Heather and her daughter enjoying the backyard gardens. Hanging Begonias, Daylilies, Hostas, and Bee Balm add color to this shaded garden bed.

By Amanda Shepherd, American Meadows Staff Writer

Heather and her husband Kevin bought their 19th century home in a beautiful areas of Vermont. Over several years, they have transformed their half-acre into truly picturesque perennial gardens. 

Heather and Kevin's gardens are great examples of using perennials to solve garden challenges. All of the gardens on their property are part-to-full shade gardens. Everywhere you look on the property, there is a garden with a different objective. They planted to reduce mowing and runoff on a sloped area by their mailbox, to hide an unsightly oil cap by their house, and found the right plants to line their sloped back yard. Each individual garden fits together perfectly to create a cozy, private oasis. 

Heather gave us a tour of her garden on an early morning in late July, at the peak of her gardens. You'll even find plant lists that you can use for your own garden planning!

Rebuilding A Shady Front Garden For Curb Appeal

This garden is one of the first things you see when you pull into Heather's driveaway. From front to back: purple Geranium, Sedum, pink Astilbe, white Hydrangea, and purple Clematis.This garden is one of the first things you see when you pull into Heather's driveaway. From front to back: purple Geranium, Sedum, pink Astilbe, white Hydrangea, and purple Clematis.
This garden is one of the first things you see when you pull into Heather's driveaway. From front to back: purple Geranium, Sedum, pink Astilbe, white Hydrangea, and purple Clematis.

Front Garden Objective: To add interest, height, and color to the front of the home, as well as hide the foundation.

Front Garden Plant List:

As soon as you pull up to the front of the home, you’re greeted by a spectacular display of full, colorful perennial gardens. Heather says these gardens were original to the home, but have been through a few different iterations since they moved in.

In the beginning, they added a variety of shrubs and trees, include Juniper, Boxwood, and a Crabapple Tree, to give structure and bring the garden up in height.

 

Hostas, Astilbe, Hydrangea, and other easy-to-grow shady perennials fill in the front gardens.Hostas, Astilbe, Hydrangea, and other easy-to-grow shady perennials fill in the front gardens.
Hostas, Astilbe, Hydrangea, and other easy-to-grow shady perennials fill in the front gardens.

A few years later, disaster hit and they lost their main plumbing line in front of their home -- and in the middle of the harsh Vermont winter. “We had to rip out most of the front garden, and you can’t do much with plants in January, so we made a pile to keep them warm in the vegetable garden,” says Heather. “We couldn’t plant until the following spring, so we had no lawn and no garden. We essentially had to start over.”

They rebuilt the front garden using some of the plants that made it through the winter, a variety of purchased shrubs, and offshoots of divided perennials from other areas of their garden. That project took the entire summer, and involved hauling in a lot of soil!

The results are stunning. The garden has a classic elegance, and features a variety of easy-to-grow perennials that thrive in partial shade. Several years later, the shrubs and trees have filled in, adding just the right amount of height to the garden. Perennials fill in underneath, leaving little room for weeds. Heather fills in the front gaps of her gardens with annual Begonias, which provide a season-long display of color and help reduce weeding. 

Perennial Garden To Skip Mowing

The driveway garden is one of Sally's (the dog) favorite spots to run around in.The driveway garden is one of Sally's (the dog) favorite spots to run around in.
The driveway garden is one of Sally The Dog's favorite spots to run around in.

Driveway Garden Objective: To eliminate the need to mow a steep area on the side of the home, to add interest along the driveway, and to reduce water runoff.

Driveway Garden Plant List:

Heather says the garden by the driveway was one of the first projects Heather and Kevin tackled when they moved into the home, out of necessity. “We started adding to this garden because we didn’t like to mow that area at all,” Heather explains. “It’s really hard to mow, and it’s under a pine tree, so everything is hard to grow there. Plus, it’s on a slope, so all the water runs off.”

 

Phlox, Sedum, Bearded Iris, Daisies, Daylilies and more are planted in this sloped bed.Phlox, Sedum, Bearded Iris, Daisies, Daylilies and more are planted in this sloped bed.
Phlox, Sedum, Bearded Iris, Daisies, Daylilies and more are planted in this sloped bed.

To give structure and decrease runoff, they added a retaining walls to the area. They connected the existing Lilacs on one side of the bed to the existing creeping Phlox that elegantly hangs over a concrete retaining wall at the end.

Several years later this garden is full, colorful, and one of Heather’s dog Sally’s favorite places to run around in. It’s a true testament to the easy-to-grow varieties in it; they seem to be holding up just fine

Side Gardens Fill Shaded Corners

Sally poses next to the red barn garden, next to Begonias, Lavender, Balloon Flower, Lilies, and Daisies. Hostas and Astilbe are in the background.Sally poses next to the red barn garden, next to Begonias, Lavender, Balloon Flower, Lilies, and Daisies. Hostas and Astilbe are in the background.
Sally poses next to the red barn garden, next to Begonias, Lavender, Balloon Flower, Lilies, and Daisies. Hostas and Astilbe are in the background.

Side Garden Objective To fill shaded corners, add charm with pots lining the concrete staircase, and hide the foundation with easy-to-grow perennial plants.

Side Garden Plant List:

Heather also added perennials to a garden in front of their red barn. This essentially makes it so each building on the property is softened with landscaping. The bright red barn is the perfect backdrop for a variety of Begonias, Lavender, Balloon Flower, Lilies, and Daisies.

The back garden calls to you from every part of the property.The back garden calls to you from every part of the property.
The back garden calls to you from every part of the property.

A perennial garden wraps along the side of the house, featuring more easy-to-grow perennials in a shaded corner that needed some sprucing up. Everywhere you look on this side of the house, there is something fun to discover. Easy to grow Begonias planted in pots add some extra color to the garden, while the back garden calls to you from every part of the property.

 

A Shady And Relaxing Backyard Garden To Attract Pollinators  

Heather and her family enjoy the gardens at their picnic table and Adirondack chairs.Heather and her family enjoy the gardens at their picnic table and Adirondack chairs.
Heather and her family enjoy the gardens at their picnic table and Adirondack chairs.

Backyard Garden Objective: to provide a sense of intimacy in the backyard, to create a boundary in front of a steep bank, and to create a beautiful space that can be enjoyed by the family and visiting butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. 

Backyard Garden Plant List:

This garden spans the entire back of their property, lining a steep bank. Although you would never guess, these are actually the newest gardens on the property. Heather says she started just two years ago with gardens along the house to hide the foundation and an oil cap. After that, things just took off.

“I just kept expanding,” says Heather. “I tested to see if Astilbe would do well, then Hostas, then Geranium and Lamium -- all the things that I figured would grow but you never know because we have clay soil.” Heather says they mixed in several yards of compost with their existing clay soil and things are growing just fine.

Heather repeats her palette of plants throughout the garden design, to create harmony. Here, we see Lamium, Hostas, Begonias, and Hydrangea.Heather repeats her palette of plants throughout the garden design, to create harmony. Here, we see Lamium, Hostas, Begonias, and Hydrangea.
Heather repeats her palette of plants throughout the garden design, to create harmony. Here, we see Lamium, Hostas, Begonias, and Hydrangea.
This long, colorful shady garden bed is framed by an arbor on the right.This long, colorful shady garden bed is framed by an arbor on the right.
This long, colorful shady garden bed is framed by an arbor on the right.

As she finished the gardens by the back of the house, Heather set her eyes on the steep bank at the back of their yard. The long garden along this steep bank is the showpiece of their landscape. Framed by an arbor on the right, which her dad built, and tall Hydrangea on the other, the garden spans the entire length of their backyard. Heather says this garden was a lot of work, but that she finished it all in one season. The garden design is simple and repetitious, which is what makes it such a calming feature in their shaded back yard.

 

Heather's 5 Tips For A Well-Designed Shade Garden  

Begonias, Hostas, Bee Balm, and Daylilies add color to the border between the lawn and the forest. They also attract pollinators to the garden.Begonias, Hostas, Bee Balm, and Daylilies add color to the border between the lawn and the forest. They also attract pollinators to the garden.
Begonias, Hostas, Bee Balm, and Daylilies add color to the border between the lawn and the forest. They also attract pollinators to the garden.

Heather has been in the garden industry for over a decade, so it’s no surprise that her landscapes are as spectacular as they are. She says a lot of the ease of designing the gardens at her home are that they all serve a purpose, and are planted near a a structure or landscape feature that helps to anchor the gardens in the landscape.

She also had inspiration from a client’s garden she worked on several years ago. “A client’s garden in town was so cute, cozy and private, you wouldn’t even know there was a main road right next to it,” says Heather. “ I loved the texture and feel of the garden, and it looked really polished. I was her gardener and I didn’t have to weed it; so I loved that it was easy, but looked really nice.”

Heather is quick to say that she wouldn’t necessarily call her gardens “easy,” which I think is pretty apparent after several hours of photographing without a weed in sight! But she does say they are easier than others. Heather chooses plants she knows will work in her shade garden, such as easy to grow Hostas, Daylilies, Begonias, and Bee Balm. “I only like to garden in the shade, so for me it’s fun to work in the backyard. It gets about 4 hours of sun per day, so most of the day is shaded and easy to work. It’s just enough sun that we can pretty much grow most things,” she says.

Heather’s 5 Tips For Garden Design:

  1. Choose easy-to-grow plants first. Heather likes to choose plants with proven success stories like Daylilies, Hostas, Bee Balm, and Hydranges.

  2. Decide the purpose of the garden. All of Heather’s garden serve a purpose (to line the back of a steep bank, to hide the foundation, reduce mowing, attract pollinators, or even as simple as to add beauty).

  3. Plant. You can never have too many plants! If garden beds are full, containers are an easy way to experiment and add color. 

  4. Divide, move, and replant. Nothing is ever permanent in Heather’s garden. She digs things up and move them every year.

  5. Don't forget to enjoy your garden! Adding seating, such as chairs or a picnic table, will give you a space to relax and enjoy your garden after all the hard work.

 

“Gardening absolutely my passion and my hobby. People always ask me, “Why do you have so many gardens? How do you keep up with them?” I garden because it’s easy for me and I don’t find it stressful. It’s my number one thing I do every week. My husband likes riding bikes, I like to spend hours hanging out in the garden. And I have pet hummingbirds so I love sitting out there and watching the hummingbirds. Gardening also feeds into my cut flower addiction.

Heather’s love of gardening is obvious as you walk around her property and her family enjoys the fruits of her labor often, sitting at the picnic table out back or on the floating adirondack chairs. “It’s just so private and cozy,” says Heather, “it’s a great place to sit out and have a cocktail at the end of the day.”

Shop Shade-Loving Plants From Heather's Garden

  1. Low Maintenance Daylily Collection

    Our Low Maintenance Daylily Collection features six popular eye-catching Daylily varieties. Bright summer blooms feature all the colors of a vivid summer sunset, from soft white to c...

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    Low Maintenance Daylily Collection Low Maintenance Daylily Collection Hemerocallis
    $109.32
    Per Collection of 18
    Our Low Maintenance Daylily Collection features six popular eye-catching Daylily varieties. Bright summer blooms feature all the colors of a vivid summer sunset, from soft white to clear yellow, bold orange, and peachy pink, and brilliant red. A mix of sizes will give your planting interesting variety, and graceful arching foliage adds attractive texture all season long. Spreading gently over time, Daylilies are a great garden investment! Collection of 18 bare root plants.
  2. Jacob Cline Bee Balm, Monarda didyma Jacob Cline with Hummingbird

    ‚Jacob Cline‚ Monarda is a colorfully vibrant, mildew-resistant variety of the cherished Bee Balm plant. Loved by both gardeners and hummingbirds, crimson red crown-shape...

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    Jacob Cline Bee Balm Jacob Cline Bee Balm, Bergamot Monarda didyma Jacob Cline
    As low as $9.32 Sale $7.46
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    'Jacob Cline' Monarda is a colorfully vibrant, mildew-resistant variety of the cherished Bee Balm plant. Loved by both gardeners and hummingbirds, crimson red crown-shaped blooms appear on tall, herbaceous plants in mid summer. Its fragrant foliage and tolerance of pests, mildew and clay soils make 'Jacob Cline' a true favorite in the perennial bed. Deer resistant. (Monarda)
  3. Creeping Phlox Emerald Blue, Phlox subulata

    ‚Emerald Blue‚ Creeping Phlox is a fast-spreading, low-growing perennial groundcover that creates a carpet of pale lavender-blue flowers in spring. Extremely easy to grow...

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    Emerald Blue Creeping Phlox Emerald Blue Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata Emerald Blue
    As low as $7.99 Sale $6.39
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    'Emerald Blue' Creeping Phlox is a fast-spreading, low-growing perennial groundcover that creates a carpet of pale lavender-blue flowers in spring. Extremely easy to grow, its early season blooms last for weeks and attract butterflies. Deer resistant and drought tolerant once mature. (Phlox subulata)
  4. Purple Beauty Creeping Phlox, Phlox subulata

    ‚Purple Beauty‚ Creeping Phlox creates a mat of bright purple blooms paired with deep violet center eyes and grass-like foliage. This 4-6„ tall spreading perennial ...

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    Purple Beauty Creeping Phlox Purple Beauty Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata Purple Beauty
    As low as $7.99 Sale $6.39
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    'Purple Beauty' Creeping Phlox creates a mat of bright purple blooms paired with deep violet center eyes and grass-like foliage. This 4-6" tall spreading perennial flowers in the springtime under full sun, but can be planted under trees that leaf out and create shade later in the season. Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, 'Purple Beauty' carries a sweet fragrance that attracts butterflies. (Phlox subulata)
  5. Pink Sedum Autumn Joy, Sedum, Stonecrop with visiting pollinator

    ‚Autumn Joy‚ Sedum produces delicate bright-pink flowers on large heads that age into a beautiful copper color as fall approaches. ‚Autumn Joy‚ is a stout, sp...

    Learn More
    Autumn Joy Sedum Stonecrop Autumn Joy Sedum spectabile Autumn Joy
    $7.99 Sale $6.39
    Per Plant - 3" Pot
    'Autumn Joy' Sedum produces delicate bright-pink flowers on large heads that age into a beautiful copper color as fall approaches. 'Autumn Joy' is a stout, spreading plant with succulent foliage that pairs well with ornamental grasses and against the deep-green leaves of summer perennials. Easy to care for, very adaptable, and a popular stand-in for shrubs, this sedum lasts and lasts when other plants begin to wane. (Stonecrop)
  6. Orange Daylily Original Orange, Hemerocallis fulva, Old Orange Daylily, Close Up

    Easy growing Daylily Original Orange is famous for its vigorous, orange blooms along roadsides nationwide. This Daylily is carefree, adaptable, and tolerant of any soil. (Hemerocalli...

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    Original Orange Daylily Original Orange Daylily Hemerocallis fulva
    As low as $15.99 Sale $11.99
    Per Bag of 3
    Easy growing Daylily Original Orange is famous for its vigorous, orange blooms along roadsides nationwide. This Daylily is carefree, adaptable, and tolerant of any soil. (Hemerocallis fulva)
  7. Snowball Hydrangea Annabelle, Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle

    Annabelle‚ Hydrangea is famous for its huge, snow-white blooms and excellent cold hardiness. This shorter variety grows 3 - 5 ft tall and flowers reliably, even after severe wi...

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    Annabelle Snowball Hydrangea Snowball Hydrangea Annabelle Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle
    $18.65
    Per Plant - 4" Pot
    Annabelle' Hydrangea is famous for its huge, snow-white blooms and excellent cold hardiness. This shorter variety grows 3 - 5 ft tall and flowers reliably, even after severe winters and intentional pruning. Its enormous 10" blooms and ability to adapt to both cold and heat have made 'Annabelle' one of the most popular hydrangeas in the country. (Hydrangea arborescens)
  8. Hosta Halcyon, Plantain Lily Halcyon, with flowers beginning to bloom growing in garden with a mix of other varieties

    A sturdy and compact hosta, ‚Halcyon‚ has blue, heart-shaped leaves with heavy ribbing and towers of lavender flowers. A handsome choice for the shade garden, ‚Halc...

    Learn More
    Halcyon Hosta Plantain Lily Halcyon Hosta Halcyon
    As low as $11.99 Sale $10.79
    Per Bag of 1
    A sturdy and compact hosta, 'Halcyon' has blue, heart-shaped leaves with heavy ribbing and towers of lavender flowers. A handsome choice for the shade garden, 'Halcyon' is an exceptional way to add texture and dimension to plant groupings. A first-rate perfomer in containers. (Hosta)
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