Show Date: 05 Jun 09

Fringed Bleeding Heart are more delicate looking and bloom for a much longer season.

Fringed bleeding heart

They’re zone hardy and will bloom better if you deadhead the spent flowers. “Astilbe” and “Turtlehead” are good options for moister shade while Autumn monkshood prefers drier shade.

Autumn monkshood

Caution: Aconitum carmichaelii, “Arendsii” aka Autumn monkshood, is toxic. Don’t eat it!

“Karl Forester” grass can handle part shade conditions although it won’t grow as tall, staying around 30 inches tall. “Obedient plant” and “Spider wort” are also part shade options for color.

Show Sate: 19 May 09

Caladiums cause you to pause!

Fanny munson caladium

Frieda hemple caladium

White Christmas caladium

Give them moist, partial shade and warm soil. That’s the ticket to good production. Choose now, plant in another week giving the soil a chance to warm up a bit more. Fill the hole with peat moss to fluff the soil and add a little acid. Plant tubers knobby-side-up about 2-inches deep and 8- to 12-inches apart.

Another bulb is the Elephant Ear. There are several varieties, the Lime Zinger has 2 foot long chartreuse leaves on a plant that grows 3- to 5-feet tall and 4- to 5-feet wide.

Lime zinger elephant ear

What a dramatic background for caladiums!