Happy Wednesday, GPOD! We’re back in Minneapolis for Part 2 of Claire’s Side-Yard Transformation. Yesterday, she told us that she started by thinking about how she wanted to use the space and saved the plants for later. Today, we’re coming back to see what’s growing in the shady garden beds surrounding her patio and gazebo.
I envisioned a calm palette of green, blue, silver, and white. Because the area is quite shady, I focused on foliage first and flowers second, using a handful of mostly white-flowering plants to brighten the garden. The garden beds are narrow, but I still wanted them to feel lush and layered rather than like a simple row of plants.
Another look at Claire’s finished gazebo. The lush foliage planted around it makes the structure feel almost like a tiny house tucked into the garden, while the matching dragon planters filled with spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum, Zones 9–11) frame the entrance like containers beside a front door. Altogether, it feels like a cozy retreat in its own private jungle.
A mix of hairy toad lily (Tricyrtis hirta, Zones 4–8), ‘Branford Beauty’ fern (Athyrium ‘Branford Beauty’, Zones 3–8), royal fern (Osmunda regalis, Zones 3–9), ‘Silver Heart’ brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla ‘Silver Heart’, Zones 3–8), and heuchera (possibly Heuchera ‘Spellbound’, Zones 4–9).
The tall plant next to the statue is the rare Himalayan cobra lily (Arisaema consanguineum ‘The Perfect Wave’, Zones 5–8), which I desperately want to replace after this one died.
White martagon lily (Lilium martagon ‘Album’, Zones 3–9) has a brief but glorious bloom.
The Areca palm (Dypsis lutescens, Zones 10–11) and ‘White Butterfly’ caladium (Caladium bicolor ‘White Butterfly’, Zones 9–11) in this container nicely tie back into the green-and-white theme used throughout the garden.
Planted in this spot are ‘Blue Ivory’ hosta (Hosta ‘Blue Ivory’, Zones 3–9), black cohosh (Actaea racemosa, Zones 3–8), Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, Zones 5–8), ‘Blue Shadow’ fothergilla (Fothergilla × intermedia ‘Blue Shadow’, Zones 5–8), and ‘Guinea Fowl’ goatsbeard (Aruncus ‘Guinea Fowl’, Zones 3–7).
The tall white candelabra flowers of black cohosh are a bumblebee magnet, and they sway gently above the other plants, adding height and movement to the garden. ‘Blue Mist’ dwarf fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii ‘Blue Mist’, Zones 5–8) is on the left, and you can see some umbrella plants in the bottom-right corner. If you look closely, you can also see the flower of ‘The Perfect Wave’ Himalayan cobra lily.
My prized lady’s slipper (Cypripedium Gidget, Zones 4–7) next to a little pulmonaria flower.
Thanks for taking us along on your side-yard transformation, Claire! It’s always refreshing to see gardeners embrace the shade and grow plants that are comfortable in those conditions. You’ve done a wonderful job showcasing just how much interest and texture a shade garden can have. You don’t need full sun to create a garden worth escaping to. Sometimes you just need to lean into what you have and work with your surroundings, not against them. Well done!
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