The fence creates a very visible place to show off some shade loving summer plants. The deep purple Choral Bells is such a beautiful contrast to the light glaze of a twelve inch pot. This plant has been living in the space, year round for several years. We add a bit of new soil and about half an inch of organic, composted Chicken manure as a top layer. The blooms are a couple weeks later than the bright pink Choral Bells in the yard, but those plants get some sun. These flowers are soft white.

The Jacob's Ladder would like more sun. It seems that last year, the plant enjoyed this spot much more than this year. Last year the plant was more compact, more upright. This year it's more leggy, moving all over the place looking for the sun. It still looks great and is blooming.

We waited until now to plant the Coleus out side in its shade corner. Around this yard, Coleus enjoys some morning sun that quickly turns to dappled late morning shade, then deep shade for the length of the afternoon. This one gets full shade.

The purple flowers are abundant and long lasting on the Dalmatian Blue Bellflower. This easy beauty is a type of Campanula and a good choice for the semi-shade or dappled shade garden. This plant (pictured) has been moved several times, looking for its favorite spot and this spot seems to be the one. It gets some early morning sun, with long afternoon shade and flowers for several weeks this time of year. The flowers form a soothing patch of purple color.

If you have a partly shady spot on a ledge where you would like to place a show plant, or a partly shady crevice in your rock garden that is crying out for something unique and interesting, Irish Saxifrage (Saxifraga x andrewsii) is a great choice. This hardy evergreen forms offshoots that grow into a cluster, eventually spreading into a nice sized mount. Great, too, for containers you can move around to where the plant receives just the right amount of easy sun and dappled shade. In other areas where cloud covered days are many, Irish Saxifrage can take more sun, but here in the desert, they seem to prefer more shade.

The plant forms clusters of saw toothed leaves that are fun to touch. The leaves fit into a variety of garden themes, from desert to alpine. In May and June, Saxifrage sends up tall, crazy looking reddish stems with tiny clusters of symmetrical white flowers with pink speckles. The stems reach to almost a foot in height and as the plant matures, multiply into a nice spray of delicate white flowers that sway in the breeze.

You can propagate this variety by dividing the root ball. If the flowers actually produce seed (some will not), you can let them dry on the plant, then collect for experimental sprouting. Growing from seed is a long process, but if you give it a try, scatter on a fluffy sprouting medium without much cover and keep moist.

Give your Saxifrage rich, well-drained soil. Keep it nicely moist, especially throughout the hottest part of the summer. Be sure to water them regularly while they establish themselves.

There are many different types of Saxifraga and many more gardeners who love them. So many, in fact, that there's even a Saxifraga Society. Drycreek often has several varieties of Saxifraga in stock. The one pictured arrived this spring.

Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium) is a perfect plant for fully shaded to partially shaded areas of the garden. The plant begins to develop tall flower stems in early spring -- at up to three feet high -- then blooms late May into June. Extend the blooming season by deadheading.

It's imperative that the right spot for growing Jacob's Ladder be found. It seems the variegated Polemonium need even more shade, but definitely, excessive sun and dry soil will produce negative results. This particular plant has been growing in a mostly shaded corner protected from the sun by an eastern and southern facing fence. A few feet to the west is the wall of the house, so the plant receives very little direct sunlight. It does receive a bit of late afternoon sun, but only for a short while. Certainly this plant thrives in this location.

Remember, well-drained soil is very important for this plant. And, as is typical for many shade loving plants, it enjoys a somewhat consistently moist, but not soggy, soil, although, if it doesn't bake in the sun, it will tolerate some drought. The flowers attract honeybees which is always nice since honeybees need all the help they can get these days.

This spring Drycreek has both deep green and variegated varieties of Polemonium.

The Columbine plant (Aquilegia), also called wild columbine, wild honeysuckle, red-bells, rock-lily and jack-in-trousers is a cold hardy perennial that can be found growing in the wild growing just about anywhere, but especially in fields and meadows from Colorado's Rocky Mountains to the east coast. Very easy to grow, Columbine needs well drained soil and does best with morning sun and partial to full shade in the afternoons. Typically, the plant will grow to about twenty-four inches high with flowers forming on tall thin spikes. With a long blooming season -- from mid May through July -- the flowers are quite showy, coming in all sorts of colors, often in spectacular combination, including white, pink, yellow, deep purple, red and lavender. The leaves, too, are very attractive, producing a delicate, almost fern-like atmosphere in shady places. There are some dwarf varieties, too, like the one pictured here, with leaves staying close to the ground under multiple flower spikes reaching only about half a foot into the air. All varieties are quite adorable.

Easy to grow, Columbine returns from year to year for about five seasons, but also spreads by self-seeding. Plants that sprout from seeds bloom the second year. They will self-hybridize as well. In some areas, the plant is evergreen or semi-evergreen, but here, they die back in the winter only to return the next spring. They do well in containers, too. Butterflies, honeybees and hummingbirds love this plant. In fact, according to the USDA, Columbine is an important nectar source for hummingbirds.

Speedwell, also called Veronica, comes in many varieties. The one pictured stays very low to the ground, covering itself with a blanket of fairly long lasting tiny purple flowers in May. It's been blooming for a couple of weeks now. This patch receives an early dose of dappled morning sun, then a fair stretch of afternoon sun. Not all types of Speedwell are low growing. Some are tall with blue, pink or white flowers. Sometimes they show up in gardens and containers uninvited, but usually as a welcomed surprise. The low growing kinds can actually take a little foot traffic and thus are perfect for growing between pavers. They do well in rock gardens, too, but will enjoy a break from the intense afternoon summer sun.

Also in this photo is the lovely Sweet Woodruff which prefers much more shade than sun. This patch extends away from the sun, receiving only a short span of dappled morning light, then full shade for the rest of the day. Woodruff covers itself with a blanket of white flowers this time of year which lasts at least a couple weeks. But, even after the flowers fade, the plant's pleasant green leaves create a cool meadow feel for the rest of the summer.

Jupiter's Beard (Centranthus ruber), also called Red Valerian, is a carefree hardy perennial that blooms profusely this time of year. The beautiful magenta flowers are incredibly long lasting with tall stems suitable for cutting. In the garden, the flowers attract honey bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. In some parts of the world, this plant can be somewhat intrusive, but it's not much to worry about here in the high desert. Seedlings are easy to remove. Drought and heat tolerant, this is a good xeriscaping choice for dry areas that call for a field of color as Jupiter's Beard pretty much takes care of itself once established. It works well, too, as a single accent, as this photo suggests. It can also easily be grown in containers. If deadheaded, the plant will bloom pretty much the entire summer.

According to Wikipedia, both the roots and the leaves are edible.

Geraniums and Pelargoniums are related. Palargoniums are the hardy type, usually called scented geraniums or storksbills. Even though there are biennial and perennial Geraniums, here in the high desert, Geraniums are often used as an annual for outdoor gardening. The family, Geraniaceae, which includes both Geraniums and Pelargoniums, make up over four hundred different species, most of which are indigenous to more temperate zones than what we have here in Nevada. With the hot summer sun, these beautiful plants with the fragrant leaves -- many of which are grown specifically for their scented oils -- seem to prefer more shade to sun without diminishing flower production. They do enjoy some cool morning sun. Flowers come in a variety of colors, including red, pink, blue, violet and pure white. They begin blooming in spring and continue all summer long.

To compensate for the winter chill that will kill many types of Geraniums, gardeners often grow them in containers that can be brought indoors once the cold weather threatens. They can also be planted in raised planter boxes and transplanted to pots as autumn arrives.

If planting outdoors, late May to early June is a good time, after the danger of frost has passed. Make sure your plants have well-draining soil. For the most part, Geraniums are care free. Just be sure to plant them high enough so that their stems are not buried. As the summer heat begins to bare down, don't let the roots dry out.

Several varieties of green, gold, blue and variegated hostas do very well in shade to partial shade here in the high desert. Our bright skies offer more light than other locations, so hostas will tolerate more shade here. They do enjoy some morning sun, but their foliage can burn from the typical desert summer afternoon scorch. Properly placed, hostas offer a lush sense of coolness. Their wide leaves help produce that hideaway feeling of a retreat or desert oasis. There are some dwarf varieties you can place in areas where there is little space and the larger varieties work well as border plants, or as weed controlling ground covers. They also do well in containers.

This time of year, it's always exciting to discover your hosta's leaves beginning to emerge from the soil. The foliage is usually more interesting and eye catching than the flowers, although some of the flowers, too, are worthy of attention. In early spring, keep an eye on their emerging stems. If a late frost is predicted, you might want to cover their eyes with mulch.

Spring is a good time to divide and plant your hostas. They need regular watering, especially as they become established, but a moist medium is their preference, although they don't like to sit in soggy soil. Once established, hostas take very little care, except that they need regular water. A good organic fertilizer applied a few times during the growing season will make them happy and keep them healthy. Mulching the ground around their stems and under their leaves will help keep them cool and comfortable during the hottest part of the year. They usually flower in mid-summer. Once the flowers fade, you can cut the stem so the plant can dedicate its energy and nutrients to its leaves rather than to the production of seeds.

Hostas are a great addition to shady areas of the garden. Easy to grow, wonderful to behold, hostas are such a beloved garden plant that there is even an International Hosta Society dedicated to them.

Gardeners new to the area are often surprised to find primroses flourishing in the hot and dry conditions of the high desert. Many Primula enthusiasts believe that our summers are simply too hot and too dry, but there are varieties that grow well here. The trick is to find the plants most suited to the region and then to find or create a microclimate that satisfies their needs. It's not a difficult task. The primula pictured here grows well with several other types in a loamy, meadow-like bed that receives mid-morning sunlight, and regular water. The bed happens to be just under the hanger for the garden hose which inevitably drips after each use. The daily moisture coupled with the afternoon shade helps maintain the proper level of moisture for the roots of these little wonders.

Definitely, Primroses enjoy a moist environment. Some do particularly well in bog-like areas near ponds and streams. Others do well in afternoon shaded rock gardens rich in loamy soil that stays moist but not soggy. In areas that become consistently and naturally dry, drip lines can be added that water generously on a regular basis. Prepare the soil with ample amounts of compost. Use material that will soak up and retain the much needed water. Add organic chicken manure each year. You can also grow Primula in containers. We recommend glazed containers because they help retain moisture better than unglazed terra cotta.

Be wary of transplanting the grocery store varieties of Primula. They are almost always green house hybrids and usually take quite a shock when transplanted to the outdoors. If you are interested in growing Primula in the high desert, talk to John and Nancy at Drycreek.

Adding trees to the neighborhood has multiple benefits. Trees help filter urban pollution, they provide much coveted shade for those hot sun downer days of summer, they provide vertical visual interest, they provide protection from the wind. Plus, humans just tend to enjoy having trees around. Maybe it's the psychological pleasure derived from the texture and color, or perhaps for people in the desert, it's the oasis feeling they promote. The notion of 'sacred groves' is ancient and there are even studies that show how trees help us heal both emotional and physical wounds. Certainly it's a fact that people love trees. Certain trees, like the mighty Sequoias and the coastal Redwoods take on so much meaning that people even put their lives on the line to save them.

To memorialize the planting of trees can help create memories that unite people and place for a life time and even for generations. The ritual brings to life the otherwise metaphorical notion of putting down roots. They become, literally, the trees of life, the trees of our lives. We often hear statements like "My grandmother planted that tree" or "My father and I planted that tree." In this way, trees become part of the family.

An advantage to planting trees in one's own yard rather than in a public place is that you can tend to and protect the tree more easily. It isn't a selfish act, since the tree will be well cared for and as it grows your neighbors will begin to reap the visual and environmental benefits as well. Of course, if you love your neighbors, this is a good day to invite them over to help plant the tree, or at least to mix the cocktails while the gardeners plant the trees.

One of the tricks to planting trees for Earth Day -- whether deciduous trees like maples, fruit trees or conifers -- is to make sure the trees you plant are weather hardy for our harsh high desert climates. Find a place in your yard where the tree can grow without competition. Happy Earth Day!

If you have areas in your garden that stay somewhat damp from shade, consider the area a prime location for this fancy perennial. In the high desert, Jacob's Ladder, also called Greek valerian and apparently named after the ancient Greek philosopher, Polemon (Polemonium caeruleum), does very well in partial to full shade. Their tall stems of blue, lavender or white flowers will bloom and brighten spaces that would otherwise remain without color. It enjoys a dose of cool morning sun, but definitely prefers to escape a south facing, afternoon bake. The foliage will scorch if it gets too much sun.

Depending upon its particular microclimate, flowers may appear in late spring, but usually early to mid-summer. The plant pictured here gets very little direct sun. Year after year it returns in the spring, first with its ladder-like leaves (as shown in this recent photograph), later in mid-summer sending up its two foot tall stems of colorful showy flowers. The flowers attract butterflies and honeybees. Some gardeners claim it to be deer-proof.

The trick to helping this plant flourish in high desert shade is not to let its roots dry out. The soil needs to be well drained, but consistently moist.

Jacob's Ladder was once considered to be a powerful medicinal companion. According to Wikipedia, in the past, from as far back as the ancient Greeks, the plant was used as a pain killer and was thought to be a potent healer. In more recent times, it was even used to treat syphilis and rabies, but such prescriptions probably didn't work out too well.