WHEN the word garden is mentioned, sunny fields of roses and petunias come to mind. But the cold truth for many gardeners is that full sun isn't an option. Trees shade their gardens for part of the day, or the usually dark north side of the home is a vacancy of dirt. With cool, peaceful shade as a starting point, gardeners need to learn a new plant vocabulary. Instead of petunias, think impatiens.
Most people begin gardening when they buy a house.
New houses often don't have mature trees. As trees grow, the lot becomes more shady, and plants that flourished in the sun begin to die. The first move most homeowners make is trying to plant grass. Tulips, crocus, daffodils and hyacinths are good examples of bulbs that bloom before leaves on trees fill in. These early risers are great for adding color to shady spots early in the spring.