Thanks, Melaroma... I did notice that I wasn't answering your original request for an upright perennial for part shade. Astilbe, Bleeding Heart, Coreopsis, Foxglove, and Phlox come to mind, although the foxglove might reseed itself a bit more than you like. Doesn't everyone wax their Hostas, Diggerdee? :oP That shot was right after a rain so everything was still wet and shiny at that point.

Yes, mine are in a less than optimal spot and that is the reason they are still there..lol. I heard how difficult they were to move and I didn't want to lose a season of bloom because I waited three years actually to see bloom. I would advice anyone considering placing these in the garden to consider doing the best you can to site them right the first time and be willing to leave them there for a long time. They do really want full sun. I have them in afternoon sun from 11:30pm until about 4pm and the blooming has been less than what I am sure it can do. One plant in the same border, evidently gets a little less sun due to trees shading it a little sooner than 4pm and it didn't bloom at all. They also get pretty large and I have had to use support for mine or it is all over the surrounding plants. Maybe due to not enough sun as well? It is very pretty when in bloom and is up against my cream colored siding and that makes it pop too. Maybe next year after it blooms I will move it. [g]

Hi, Marissa! I hope you have a camera because we're going to want to see pictures of your garden this spring and summer! It sounds lovely already and I'm sure you'll gradually add your own touches. I'm one who doesn't do a lot of fall clean-up. Lots of people do and I wouldn't say they are wrong. I've just always thought the old stuff offers some bit of protection in winter. Grasses and a few other plants do add winter interest but a lot of it is just d-e-a-d. I yearn so for spring anyway that it's just a little bit more anticipation for me to see it cleaned up again. In spring I wait until the weather is cooperative - not so cold that I'm miserable out there - and then I dive in! By then I'm so eager to get back out in the flowerbeds that I have no trouble finding the energy and motivation to put in the time it takes! As for how much and how far...cut back grasses to a few inches high when the new green growth just begins to show or even before. Be VERY CAREFUL not to cut into the new growth because it can really set them back and deform the shape of the plant. Other perennials will show you how much to remove since the old parts will be brown or black and obviously not part of the new growth. It is so refreshing to see the fresh green coming up underneath all that old stuff. I get a big kick out of it! Anything that looks dead can go. If the last freeze is past I pull back any mulch that is too close or covering the new green growth and (my least favorite chore) remove the dry leaves that have blown into the beds from the woods nearby during the winter. Around here we do have some evergreen plants that discolor during winter - I leave those alone til later because some of that foliage will brighten up again. You can always nip out the parts that don't make a come-back. As I go through the beds I also pull any weeds I can identify - if I'm not sure it's a weed I'll let it go rather than yank what may be a "volunteer". Some things do self sow and can come up in unexpected places. I like that and would rather harbor a weed for a while than execute a goody. Eventually I hope I'll be able to identify all the likely players but for now I'm content to know the 3-4 most common weeds in this area. If I keep up with those I'm doing pretty well. I find by starting right away in spring I can get a jump on the weeds and not let things get out of hand. How lovely that you are thinking ahead and planning for the future of your adopted garden! I bet the previous owners would be delighted to know that it will be taken care of and enjoyed. Gardening is an ongoing process of learning whether you are new to it or experienced. I'm sure others will post advice to you that reflects greater experience and skill than I have.

No place on God's green earth will you find earth that is not green - unless of course it is covered with oil, glyphosate, or some other deadly witches brew. There is a product made from corn that is natural and is a quality fertilizer that contains a substance that suppresses new seed growth but does not affect established rooted cuttings. Somewhat like my girlfriend was 5 years ago (5 long years of teaching preaching and showing), she just wanted that magazine cover garden without any learning, without any headaches or soul searching - she wanted it to be safe for her dogs and come in a bottle. Nettle is not a bad thing if you learn what it is telling you about your soil. Here is a link that might be useful: What Weeds Tell us