shade garden
THE FIRST CAMELLIA
The first camellia to bloom in my garden is Camellia sinensis, the Tea Plant.
No big drumroll for it is not the showiest, but then neither are crocuses, yet we delight to see them.
This plant is my introduction to the Camellia Season, and yes, this is the plant from which tea is made.
Fast on its heels is Camellia sasanqua ‘Sparkling Burgundy’.
Camellias and hydrangeas have the same cultural requirements; below, another good reason to plant them in close proximity.
This was taken in the ‘Circle of Friends’ so you can see this area is really non-stop beautiful throughout the year.
A bit blurry, but you get the idea.
BTW my Camellia sinensis has provenance. It was gifted to me from Penny McHenry but it was a seedling from the garden of Martha Tate.
HYDRANGEAS, HYDRANGEAS, EVERYWHERE!
In the summer, Hydrangeas form the backbone of the shade garden, they will carry the garden through the summer and keep my vases filled as well..
In The Circle of Friends, the camellias are now backdrop, and these beauties are showing their stuff.
Most Hydrangeas are rounded in form. From a distance they are indistinguishable… 
On closer inspection however……
many are quite distinctive, above Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Jogasaki’
The lacecap Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Lanarth White’ above.
Hydrangea quercifolia & Hydrangea macrophylla above. Although I do enjoy the delicate lacecap flowers, the big blue or white balls are certainly eye-catching in the landscape.
Above, Oakleaf Hydrangeas mark the entrance to the Viburnum Court.
What carries your garden through summer?
WILD THINGS
Time for the WILD THINGS!
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) popping up in the meadow. The name is derived from the red sap which bleeds as the stem is cut or the root disturbed. The Indians used this sap for paint and as a dye.
Trillium cuneatum naturalized in the meadow. I cannot take credit for this…they were here before me and keep multiplying.
Woodland phlox (Phlox divericata) naturalized with the Trillium….delicate & fragrant.
I encourage all these to increase by allowing their seed to ripen and disperse before the meadow is cut. Slowly & surely this is happening. Every year at this time I wonder if I will live long enough to see my vision come to fruition. But then again its about the journey, and I am enjoying this one immensely.
© All photos & text 2011