THE plant for dry shade--Geranium macrorrhizum--big Root Geranium. Semi evergreen, handsome groundcover, highly deer resistant, easy to control, very attractive with late spring bloom and no dead heading, dividing or other attention required. What more could you want? Alternate--Epimedium sulphureum--slower to fill in, must be cut back in late winter, but very attractive and has early bloom. If you garden in deer country, as I do, there is very little point in planting plants that deer love. It's a losing battle. And while it is true that starving deer will eat anything, there is a huge range of plants for both sun and shade that they generally have very little interest in. If your yard has mostly unappealing plants, they won't hang out there much. That said, I ALWAYS spray a new plant with a good repellant so if some young thing tries it, their first experience is YUCK! They spread the word. And having said all that, yes, I do have a few plants that deer will eat, and I do spray those. But they are very few, so keeping up with the spraying is not onerous and doesn't break the bank. However, I have NO hostas, yews, or tulips--the ones that say "Free Lunch".

Well, I went to home depot today and picked up a japanese maple that gets about 10'. I have pictures below showing the space where it is going that I'm having trouble with, and then a pic with the tree (its still in a pot, not enough time to plant it). I saw the oak leaf hydrangea and it reminded me a lot of ninebark so I passed on it. Do you have any photos of it in full bloom? I am not wedded to putting the jap maple there, I can also put it in the frotn yard, so if any of you can think of something else there, share your thoughts! I decided a vine wouldn't work because I'd have to cut it down when and if they decide to finally paint the wall. But now after all this talking I HAVE to have an alba rose so one of those will be coming in spring, I think!!!!!1 From 2010-07-10 From 2010-07-10 I also could put a redbud or crabapple, but nothing much bigger. It must get at least partial sun there because the raspberries i planted there aren't dying , so...

Have you tried contacting UofM extension master gardeners? ramsey county has free info and services, I bet hennepin might too. http://www.hcmg.umn.edu/ keep us posted as to what you find Here is a link that might be useful: free help

Aruncus - 'Goatsbeard'....gorgeous. Looks like giant Astilbe. Will take a year or so to get big but the large one (don't get the mini) will reach 5 to 6 feet. It's not what I'd call 'narrow' but can be trimmed. I'm sure in zone 4 - I'm in zone 5. It doesn't bloom all summer but the foliage is really pretty too. Westy