Some of my allium seeds are sending out roots in the refrigerator already...just over 2 wks there. So I am starting the
other 25 from the packet.

Only about 8 or so are doing it...I am going to plant them in
cells today and keep the others going to see if they germinate or not.

These are the hybrid large ones I bought on Ebay.

Dear Mrs. D., I did a little digging today (not in soil). I found a list of plants that grow in dry shade. Day lily (stella de oro), Periwinkle Vinca, Pearly Everlasting(Anaphalis) This has white flowers. Bearberry(Arctostaphylos) This is a very dense low growing green plant (kinda looks like a grass) that shoots up purple spikes that are no taller than plant. Ladys Mantle, Lily of the Valley, Barrenwort(Epimedium) This is flowering also yellow and ruby. Cransebill(geranium), Hosta!!! Foxglove, Grape Hyacinths (Warning!! Spreads like crazy) Japanese Spurge(Pachysandra), Lungwort(Pulmonaria), Lambs Ear(Stachys), English Ivy, Spotted Dead Nettles, this looks like an Ajuga (spelling?) It has silver on leaves, pretty! and one more Scilla Siberica which is a bulb. I hope this helps. You really need to try to add some compost to area and after planting add mulch to retain water better. I have lambs ear up the ying yang if you so desire it, and also day lilies. Check these out and let me know what you think. Cindy

That is a great list Cindy! I have about 2/3 of those already.

I didn't know Pearlies could grow in shade. Up North, they don't do well in the woods, but do very well on the rocky shore (where there is little or no soil).

I transplanted a clump from our other island (the family owns but is not built upon) to our shore in 2005. This picture shows them getting ready to flower in 2006. They were robust until last year, when they more or less were gone. But they reseeded, and have spread nicely. And the DEER leave them alone! HAHA
They don't transplant well, and may die when moved. The place where I took them had a clump about 36 inches in diameter.
Last summer that clump spread along the whole shore -- just above the water line. It had to be 50 feet LONG! It was amazing. We don't know if that was because I took a piece of it and that stimulated it, or it was just going to happen anyway!

So I will bring back seeds this year from ours and see if they take across the street! They'd even be nice in our regular garden! The pH up there in the Limestone(alkaline) may be the factor they love..we might be too acidic for them here...but it is worth a try!

Mrs. D., I went on line and just typed dry, shade plants. You could too. Good luck with it. It snowed here this A.M. lots of wind too. Yuk! Good day to stay under comforter with good book, and cup of tea!! This yo yo weather makes my sinus problems kick up. Come on spring!!

Yes... today we have snow too. Today is really a TWO cuppa for me! (maybe a 3 cuppa in fact!)
I hate sudden weather lows like this...I feel awful today. But I had a nice day
yesterday. Some beautiful and inexpensive pansies at Home Depot! They are
sitting in my van right now (it is sort of like a cold frame with plenty of windows/sun). I keep a planter at the foot of the stairs, and just leave
the pansies in their pots. These are 5 inch generous pots for $2.98...It was so lovely yesterday I couldn't resist.
We are supposed to get up to 5 more inches of snow today.... blech!

Thanks for the tip!

MrsD, OMG, I was also at Home Depot yesterday, I saw those pansies! I bought two pots of rock cress. One lavendar and one dark purple. Thats my fav color. Will look beautiful next to my purp forget- me- nots next spring. I also bought a pink smoke bush at Aldi of all places. $14.99 tho just a sprig. I also bought a pack of Cerinthe, its something new to me. Of course another purple flower! Thought I'd try it. I work in a flower shop as a designer and have access to a greenhouse to start my own seeds. Great boss! I also winter over many things there too. Its snowing tonight. Heavy flakes! Makes everything messy! Pretty to look at tho! Take care

Our Home Depot didn't have much out yet. There were some
tulips and hyacinths in addition to the pansies.

I'm getting them out of the car today, I think they'll be okay now.

That is great having access to a greenhouse... oh, my!

And thanks for being a good sport about my booboo yesterday

By rock cress you mean? Aubrietia? or phlox? I saw some creeping phlox at Home Depot too.

I was checking the front garden yesterday and given all the stress of the digging up the street last spring, things are looking good. Even the saponaria that got ripped out. It spread from underground stems! I didn't expect that

mrsD, The rock cress is Aubrietia. I love it. Another thing I saw there at Home Depot was a new variety of Curly Willow (Tree). It has a darker stem. I grow it myself (I dont let it get very big) to cut and use at flower shop in arrangements. Its very wispy. It added style to my work. I love using branches of unusual color and shape. I use red dogwood, birch, bamboo and regular willow. Of course all of it when all the leaves have fallen off. Im a regular ditch diver, as they call me at work. Sometimes the best finds, like kitty willow, and wild pampass grass is on the other side of a ditch as far as access to it. LOL I even climb trees to get a good truck full of curly willow. I especially love my job this time of year with all the spring flowers that are so abundant. We just got a load of the most fragrant stock in a varitey of colors (purple being my fav) and really tall larkspur also in a nice variety of colors. Tulips, iris, daffs and of course ornamental lilies. We have a large greenhouse that we grow our own callas (white) and fresia. Its just nice to use color. We go from xmas (red, green, white) to Val Day (Red again) to spring. Makes you creative!! Happy Easter! I had to put kitty willow because it bleeped out the word that starts with a P. If you think aboout it youll get it!!LOL What ever!

Do you have any pictures of your arrangements?

I'm going to check our nurseries for that curly willow.
Can you increase it by rooting it? How tall does it grow?

Dear MrsD., I need to get a scanner!!! I'm still new to this computer stuff. I will send pics when I get one. Soon! Curly Willow roots very fast. When I cut it of trees, I keep it in a cool garage at work. This time of year, thats easy. It drys to quick when hot, then its not pliable. You see, I wrap smaller pieces into a ball and place in a vase before I add water, then arrange from there. Its a very now look, as is plastic colored ice chips, marbles, rocks. You can get those at any dollar store. Anyway, I throw the stumps into a bucket with water this time of year. This stuff roots very easily, like P. Willow also. Then when its nice enough, I stick it in the ground. Ive also just stuck it in without rooting and that worked too. Its nice when you have long pieces to cut a bunch and put into a large, tall vase in your house. You can even make a wreath out of it the same way you make a grapevine wreath, or swag. I just love it!! I just recently went to Niagara International Flower Show in Niagara Falls. They showcased a woman named Els Tennissen. She is originally from Holland. She did many designs made with supplies from Accent Decor. Beautiful and creative styles. Look this website up AccentDecor.com this is the kind of designs we make. TTYL PS Curly Willow is a regular size willow tree. You can keep it from getting large by pruning every year. Just plant it where you wont care if it does get big someday.