Do You Really Want to Know?

Kylee of Our Little Acre tagged me for this meme September 10th.
The link above will allow you to read her post on this subject!

I hadn't meant to avoid doing this, but have just waited until I had a moment to think about it.

I did something similar a couple of years ago. I was very complete. Wonder what else I could say?

First the rules: 1) Disclose seven pieces of information about yourself.
2) Link back to the person who gave you the award (the tagger).
3) Choose seven other blogs to nominate and post a link to them.
4) Let each of your choices know they've been tagged by posting a comment on their blog.
5) Let the tagger know you've posted.

Okay. I'm going to write about the variety of "chapters" in my life (during my married life):

1) While raising our two pre-school children, I babysat a couple of their playmates as well as a couple of other very special little friends over a 3-year period.

2) When they were school-age, for two years I helped a baker in her basement kitchen, doing her "finish work" by layering and frosting cakes, dipping truffles, etc. Fun!

3) For two summers, I worked for our local daily newspaper (weekday mornings),

4) For two years I began and operated a consignment Art Shop out of our home. It was great fun (I made and sold over 200 various styles of baskets)!

5) For two years I worked as an associate in the local school system. This was with one of my teacher/friends, in the Talented and Gifted Classroom. (She, herself, had researched this whole program and was allowed to develop and teach it.) During this time period, I was able to take several classes in Gifted Education.

6) While I was the teacher associate, I also returned to college in an evening program. For those same two years, I was able to take all the Methods classes necessary to complete the teaching degree I'd begun years before.

7) After the two years' associateship and teacher training, I student-taught with two other teacher/friends, substitute taught for 1 year, and was hired by our local school system as a second grade teacher. I began teaching as our daughter entered 9th grade. The rest is history. I took early retirement 3 years ago. My last class of 2nd graders entered 6th grade this year.

8) One last little fact: I love this new chapter of my life. Making new friends and having new adventures. :-)

P.S. Did I ever mention that I like the Science of anything outdoors, artistic and crafty endeavors, writing (prose, poetry and blogging), meeting and making friends, etc. ;-)


That's about it! As far as tagging anyone else... would YOU like to be tagged? Either let me know, or just go right ahead and create a post. Then you can let me know, because I'd love to read it!! :-) Have fun with this - it's only as complicated as you want to make it.

GBDW - Shade, Shade, Shade! :-)

Garden Bloggers' Design Workshop

Made for the Shade!

I love the ideas these people have for our participation and interaction! Ever since I began my garden blog, I've found postings by gardeners in each of their meme topics SO informative and helpful! I think you will, too. Please follow the link provided above for a list of the various Memes and the people that have participated so far in this one! Follow the links and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Now, the subject of Shade is one in which I could hardly wait to sink my trowel and dirty hands! I don't call myself "Shady Gardener" just for the fun of it! ha! ;-)

I live in the shade. Our home is situated in a woodland area comprised of several native varieties of oak, as well as shagbark hickories.

First: The Sunlight

We have a LOT of sunlight during the very late Fall, Winter and Early Spring! I love it! Until mid-May, there's still a certain amount of shade due to the fact that nearly 1/2 the oaks hold their leaves until Spring. However, all this early-Spring sunlight gives all plants a great growth jumpstart once the snow disappears.

About 1/2 of the front yard receives quite a bit of sunshine during the Spring/Summer months. Once the sun rises over our roof until about 3:00 - 3:30 or so in the afternoon when the yard is shaded by various trees. The sunshine allows me to grow plants that can tolerate early morning as well as late afternoon shade, many of which are generally considered "full sun lovers."

These two photos were taken 5/18/09.

The south part of the yard has a semi-shady area holding the "Raised Bed Gardens." This area, I surmise, once enjoyed sunshine, but has become quite a bit more shaded over the years. Here 'Purple Coneflower,' Echinacea (although they never achieve their full glory and are usually very pale pink!), 'Black-eyed Susan' Rudbekia , 'Turtle head' Chelone Obliqua, Balloon flower, 'Sarah Bernhardt' Peony, 'Rosy Lights' Azalea, daylilies, etc.

Non-obedient Obedient Plant 'Vivid'

Chelone Obliqua, 'Turtlehead'
Aster 'Alert'

Echinacea 'Purple Coneflower'

Monarda, 'Jacob Cline'
(photo borrowed from Bluestone Perennials site)

*** Now, 'The Shade!' ***

I really do love the shade! It's a wonderfully relaxing, cooling spot to be during a hot, humid summer day. That's not to say that it doesn't get hot here, but it's just a lot cooler than everywhere else! :-) And it's so inviting to drive from the open sunlight into the shady drive and feel the temperature drop! Am I making you wistful at all? (The variety of birds and their songs is wonderful as well!)

I began a few posts in January about some of the Shade Plants I have especially enjoyed discovering and planting here. Click on the names to link to one of my previous posts.

First there is the Pulmonaria (lungwort) family. Every year there are more interesting and diverse varieties. For much information about this plant, propagation and care, Click Here.

Pulmonaria 'Trevi Fountain'

Next there is the Tricyrtis family. This post was created last September. Toadlilies are also being developed with greater variety in foliage and blossom. I planted a couple of new ones this year... Iowa Boy posted about 'Tojen,' and someone else posted about 'Taipei Silk'. . . was it you?? At any rate, I planted both this Spring! :-) Would you like more general information about these plants? Try this website.

Tricyrtis 'Shining Light'

I love the Tiarella, Heucherella, and Heuchera plants. Knowing that Heuchera are Coral Bells, did you know that plant breeders have crossed the Tiarella and Heuchera to create the Heucherella?

Tiarella 'Iron Butterfly'

Heuchera 'Amber Waves'
(he's a little larger than this, right now)

Of course, what would shade gardens be without the nearly infinite variety of Hosta?

'Sum and Substance' is way in the back of this bed.
If you look closely, you'll see several other varieties, too.

Add to this mixture a variety of ferns and you have the backbone of Shady Beauty! I have a number of different types including Japanese Painted ferns, Autumn Fern, Ostrich Fern, Lady Fern, Korean Rock Fern and a lovely unnamed fern as well as this cutie below!

'Frizzelae'

There are so many other plants that are readily grown in the shade and/or partial or dappled shade:

Virginia Bluebells, Dicentra Spectabilis Bleeding Heart, and daffodils.

Ligularia, Rodgersia, Liriope Spicata/ Lilyturf, Brunnera , Astilbe, Arum Italica, Rhododendron, Hydrangea, Viburnum, Dogwood, Bergenia, Spirea, Anemone, Pasque Flower, Lady's Mantle, Cranesbill Geranium, Meadow Rue, ajuga, trumpet lilies, columbine and sedum.

I think the list goes on! However, for the most part, this is what I have. Many plants considered "sun lovers" can exist happily with partial shade! And that makes gardeners like me happy, too!

Have I helped anyone out there at all?
Would you say this is a "Shady Subject?"
:-) SG