I envy anyone who has the ability to make beautiful tapestries under their trees and shrubs. I am fine when it is in the regular part of my garden, but now that some of my trees (like my Cercis) are starting to mature, I am struggling with painting a beautiful picture under them.
When I was visiting Marion Jarvies garden in May, I found some stunning combinations that I am hoping to copy.
From a distance,
and up close and personal.
You can see that it is not the rarest or newest plants, just a lovely mix of hostas, ferns, grasses etc. But it is the combination of colours and textures that makes it so special.
Some of the plants I have already, so there will be a bit of plant moving this autumn, can’t wait.
I am a floral designer living in a tiny condo in downtown Toronto, Canada's largest city. But on the weekend, I am a gardener/frustrated architect trying to keep up with a 3/4 acre garden in Owen Sound, Ontario, a warm (to Canadians, Zone 5b, and a cold (to Americans, Zone 4b) garden.
Green Theatre 
paulinemulligan said,
June 22, 2012 @ 3:33 AM
Absolutely stunning, my favourite sort of planting with all the shade that we have. You will have fun in the autumn, lucky you!
kilbournegrove said,
June 25, 2012 @ 6:48 AM
I am looking forward to it, did I tell you I like jigsaw puzzles?
Barbara H. said,
June 22, 2012 @ 7:57 AM
Beautiful weaving! Maybe someday…
kilbournegrove said,
June 25, 2012 @ 6:49 AM
Your day will come Barbara.
Heather @ new house, new home, new life said,
June 22, 2012 @ 8:27 AM
I love the use of small Japanese maples under the bigger trees. The vignette with the dogwood and maple is stunning. I’m dealt with the same hand here – mature trees with nothing underneath – so we created a shade garden with hostas, hydrangeas, heucheras and ferns. It’s my favorite spot in the garden.
Have fun planning your work in the autumn. It must be exciting to sit back and dream, then put it into place.
kilbournegrove said,
June 25, 2012 @ 6:51 AM
Me too! I have such high Maples in my garden, that those understory trees can fit in easily, just wish I was in a warmer zone like your garden. Now I am a bit scared to pay such high prices when they are right on the edge with hardiness.
Laurrie said,
June 22, 2012 @ 8:40 AM
All of the plants shown here are okay but not that special on their own, but the layering and massing and staging of them all together is wonderful. You are right, there are some lessons worth copying here!
kilbournegrove said,
June 25, 2012 @ 6:52 AM
I sometimes get caught up in the ‘newest plant’ craze, so this was an important lesson to me. Mine just need to get a lot larger as I think the size of the plantings is a big part of their appeal as well.
Jennifer@threedogsinagarden said,
June 22, 2012 @ 10:09 AM
Really nice combinations! I like her dogwoods and the Sensation Barberry in a previous post as well.
kilbournegrove said,
June 25, 2012 @ 6:53 AM
She does have very nice plants, a lot of drooling goes on when I am visiting.
PJ Girl said,
June 22, 2012 @ 4:18 PM
I love hostas more and more each year… and her use of them is great!
kilbournegrove said,
June 25, 2012 @ 6:54 AM
I love them as well, planted a buch of them together under my cercis, but I think, after looking at her planting, I shall add some ferns and grasses to break it up a bit.
Derek Yarnell said,
June 23, 2012 @ 10:14 AM
My backyard is covered by a massive Norway Maple, but by focussing on shade plants like Solomon’s Seal, Periwinkle, Epimedium, ferns and hostas (and an annual addition of a few white impatiens), I’ve been able to create a lush green space. Now you’ll just have to find a space for the sun loving plants you may have to move out!
kilbournegrove said,
June 25, 2012 @ 7:06 AM
It seems I am always moving those sun lovers, further and further out, soon it will be to the neighbours. But I don’t care, there are so many gorgeous shady lovers now, and I want to have room for them all.
Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I hope to ‘see’ you again soon.
Derek Yarnell said,
June 23, 2012 @ 10:17 AM
I’ve got a massive Norway Maple in my backyard that dominates and creates dense shade, but with the right plants have managed to create a pretty lush and green space, I am sure you will too. Now you’ll have to find a space for the sun loving plants that you will have to move out!
kilbournegrove said,
June 25, 2012 @ 7:09 AM
I never thought I would ‘see’ you again so soon, lol. Thank for for resending your comment. I have the same problem sometimes and never really know if it went through or why there was a problem.
Donna@Gardens Eye View said,
June 23, 2012 @ 2:08 PM
I love so many of these combos. So wonderful with the right mixes of color and texture.
kilbournegrove said,
June 25, 2012 @ 6:54 AM
I am def copying!
debsgarden said,
June 23, 2012 @ 10:55 PM
Yes, such wonderful combinations are sure to inspire some rearranging and new plantings in other gardens! I am constantly stealing ideas from other gardens, and blogging has made my thieving habit worse!
kilbournegrove said,
June 25, 2012 @ 6:56 AM
Mine too!!! Now I have more ideas then garden space, wait till we return Ian will be scared.
Laura@PatioPatch said,
June 25, 2012 @ 8:20 AM
Not easy to prettify shade because under a tree it can be dry and many of the shade lovers like some damp in their feet. The images are inspirational mosaics of colour and texture. The blue corydalis and blue hostas is a recent winning combo I saw. Look forward to your shade transformation post.
kilbournegrove said,
July 2, 2012 @ 2:26 PM
I am starting to love foliage ‘mosiacs’ more and more. Yours sounds brilliant.
Alistair said,
June 25, 2012 @ 9:13 AM
Fabulous, I just love Hostas, the Japanese Fern and most of all the Hakonechloa.
kilbournegrove said,
July 2, 2012 @ 2:27 PM
Me too, I am mad for hakonechloas, have almost all of them. I can’t wait for mine to get as large as Marions.