Fantastic! Thank you guys....close to a Monstera then, but their labelling could have been somewhat better! I shall try very hard to keep up the good work (although I suspect the plant's success is more down to the plant itself than to anything I'm doing!! - maybe it just likes my windowsill.....) Thanks again - I'm off to read up on it now :-)

I think come June an July my whold front yard is going to be shade. I been watching the past few days no 1 area in the front yard gets more than an hour of sun a day. The yard is very small 20x 30 feet about the oaks are 25 yrs old so good sized trees. There not as many leaves on them now as there will be come summer so even tho the days are shorter now be more shade in summer or just as much. Not a lot of money to spend on yard an if hubby spends 100.00 on yard that a lot of money to him for a yard that he really does not care if there is grass or anything out there he could care less what it looks like. So what ever I do I have to know for a fact it will grow not just this yr but in years to come because he's not gonna want to fork over the money yearly. 1 big problem with the grass has been it's never been able to take root good before someone came along an scalped it with a mower. The yard needs a couple of years of grass only being cut 3 or 4 times a summer but the others in the community not about to let that happen because the yard will look unkept. Many of the yards has same problem in sun an shade no grass because it's never been allowed to grow an become good strong grass. Maybe I can lay cardboard then mulch a good bit of it set some ornaments out there not everyone likes yard art tho never going to please everyone tho.....

The wood looks pretty rough. If it is just in need of a good cleaning/restaining/sealing...I would do that. Otherwise, wait and see what you decide after you have lived with it for a bit.

Hi Beth, When I saw Popmama's suggestions I remembered there was a thread not too long ago where I had posted and "seconded" most of what she had already posted, so I went looking for it--and I found it! What I didn't remember was that it was your thread! Easier than trying to repeat it all here, I'm just gonna link the thread. I just looked it over and virtually everything I was gonna say is already in that thread! https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5682766/what-should-i-put-in-shade-area-in-front-of-my-house#n=10 I will add this! The "tall things" I recommended don't bloom very long, so unless you really want a "tall thing," or unless you're gonna put in a good mix of things so you have flowers all/most of the time, you wouldn't have color for very long. Also, especially with the Thalictrum, after it finishes blooming (the "purple fluff" one) the foliage "deteriorates" slowly over summer, so it doesn't look all that great as a "foliage plant!" My Aruncus is just finishing blooming now, and it is definitely pretty cool when it's blooming! If you decide to go with all perennials I highly recommend sticking Bergenia in there somewhere because it's evergreen, so you have "something" out there in winter. It's one of my favorites in my shade bed on the north side of the house. I also love my ferns, and they add great textural variety. In the linked thread, but the Autumn Fern is also "semi-evergreen" so helps add winter interest. And a quick comment about hostas! When you're shopping for them be sure you're checking the heights and not just the "colors." They can range anything from a tiny one I have, Hosta minima, which is only a couple inches tall, to ones that are up to three or possibly even four feet tall, so be sure you get a variety that fits the height you're looking for. Also, hosta is one of the last things to put in an appearance in spring, and one of the first to freeze in the fall, so consider that in your plans too. Everything else I can think of to recommend is in the linked thread--which was on a thread you posted on three forums--but I "took a chance" and decided to post on it anyway! But, like "yesterday's" thread, you had the "same problem" there when the first response, instead of trying to answer your question, suggested that you widen and move your sidewalk! A helpful reply, indeed! Oh, I almost forgot! Your original question on "the other thread" was about hydrangeas! On that I will also second what Popmama said! When I moved into this house there was an Annabelle Hydrangea in the front of my house, which is FULL sun, and........ I just remembered that this is another thing I had posted about at some point in the past, and I was able to find that thread too! See my post in this thread for the Hydrangea info! But, an update! "My" Hydrangea, which is now growing in Longmont at Cheryl's house, is in almost complete shade and it does beautifully for her every year! I don't know if she's ever had a problem, like I did, where the flowers get saturated in rain and "fall over" but I'm pretty sure she hasn't because she's never mentioned it to me. I believe the stems are growing "stronger" now that it's out of the hot sun! And after you read my post in that thread that'll all make sense to you! https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2129095/hydrangeas-along-the-front-range#n=4 After you read all this stuff, if you have any questions about any specific plant, listed on this thread or not, just ask! Skybird