OT - flower bulbs

The flowers in the FIDO catalog are all good for our area. I think any of the flowers would be fine. Lots of people at my company are buying the box of mixed bulbs so they have a variety without having to think about it.

I'm with you Anne, I have the same type of thumb. I have been doing some reading and you might want to plant a mix of early to mid spring blooming bulbs (like daffodils, tulips, hyacinth) with some late spring and summer bloomers (like lilies, daisies) so you have coninuous color. Look for things that are "full sun." I have the opposite problem as you, most of my planting areas get a great deal of shade. The side of the house I don't see much of gets the best morning sun.

If anyone has suggestions for heavy shade tolerant, perennial, colorful flowers...Please let me know!

On the same note - don't laugh - will the box tell me when to plant the bulbs? if not, when do I plant them? :)

I'm not a real big gardener either, but I planted crocus, tulips and hyacinth a couple years ago in the fall, and they came up in the spring. The box should tell the best time to plant and sun/shade requirements. It will also tell you how deep to plant them.

Woo - there is one type of bulb in that catalog that says it can be for full shade. They're the ones that look like colorful daisies. Sorry, I don't have my catalog with me! I just remember that because my yard is very shady, and I am going to get some of those bulbs.

For spring bloomers -- I've had good luck with the Grape Hyacinth (both white and purple) coming back year after year, even with the evil lawn crew at my condo complex trying to kill anything besides grass.

For summer bloomers (~memorial - labor day bloom time), I've had good luck with something called the "Blue Charm Veronica" (Pic: http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/97390/ ) and I'm going to give the "Monarda Fireball" (Pic: http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/70994/) a whirl.

Both are mildew resistant, attract butterflies, deal well with LOTS of rain and also bounce back if it's been dry. AKA, hearty plants! Just my type!

As far as zones go, IN is (in theory) in Zone 6. But I've not had good luck with those types of flowers... I do better with ones that are more cold tolerant, such as zone 4-5 varieties. Zone map/info here: http://www.arborday.org/media/zones.cfm

A good shade perennial is Lily of the Valley..also Hostas are always a good choice. Search some of the sites like Michigan Bulbs, Spring Hill, or Brecks for perennial bulbs that bloom in shade. Oh, and we are zone 5 :)

Let me say one of my favorite flowers are Lilly of the valley, but at times we have found they take several years of growing before they bloom. Just to let you know.

Shade tolerant colorful perennials are few and far between. I have the same problem. There is at least 1 variety of Butterfly Bush that is semi-shade tolerant. I use a lot of hostas, especially the ones with white bands or tips on them. Coral bells and astilbe are both good, but don't have a real long flowering time. I planted something called Blondie in semi-shade this year and it seems to be doing well. The annuals I use for deep and semi-shade are dragon wing begonias (love those,) fuschsias, regular begonias, and the ever popular impatiens. Sullivan's Hardware on N. Keystone has had a pretty good selection of shade plants, and they are all guaranteed for a year.

We're technically in zone 5, but I only buy zone 4 or less.

Brecks does give you instructions for planting, and sends them to you right at the time you should plant.

To add to the shade tolerant list:

toad lilly, ferns (most), columbine, jack-in-the-pulpit, woodland poppy, bloodroot, barrenwort, cutleaf toothwort, wild ginger, bleeding heart, toad shade, trilium, lenten rose, Virginia blue bells. That's at least what comes to mind when I think about what's in my deep shade garden out front. Even better, most are native and need NO care.

If your shade is due to trees, you can plant any early blooming sun loving plant.

these tips were very helpful - thanks !