What size are the Phlox divacarta? Are they rooted plants from previous years or are they newly started from seeds this year? They do not have a very large root system so could you send a picture or explain. I would be intertesed in them and the lamium hermans Pride but want to know what size they are also. email me if interested. What are you looking for in the 5 nice size divisions. have many things I could trade. Marsha

I guess I have been misunderstood- I want to start a mass planting, and again have the room for it. I am starting out with these three cultivars, and am putting them against the backdrop of some mature trees, which are against a fence. Since they are an understory tree, if thats the correct word, I thought the dappled light would be good for them. In the picture I have referred to, there are a number of different Japanese maples in the foreground, and the caption reads mass planting of acer palmatum in the landscape. That is the effect I am after, and I don't really care what its called. I am only starting out with 3 trees because thats all I can afford right now, but the fence runs the length of an acre, so I guess eventually it will be a mass planting of maples, because eventually I would like it to look like the photo in Vertrees, which shows about 10 JM trees. The azeleas and small evergreens would go in the foreground of the bed. I really liked the fact that the picture didn't look like a row of the same tree, but was greatly varied in its leaf colors and textures. Hopefully you guys have access to this book, and can see what I mean. I really didn't mean for this to turn into a debate about my taste in arranging cultivars together, I just mentioned them so people could help me with size. I sort of get the idea you guys think I have no taste, and do not understand what the book was explaining, or how to garden, which has hurt my pregnant hormonal feelings-not meaning to qibble. Again, thanks for the advice.

There are some sedge/Carex species that might work there if you want a similar shape to Hakone grass. Some like sun and some like shade, some are spreading and some clumping, so I imagine you can find ones that fit your needs. There are quite a range of more sun-tolerant Hostas now, so that might work well also, especially if you chose either ones with leaves a different size, shape, or color than the Hydrangeas. Look at some of the shorter daylilies or shorter Siberian irises which will both have contrasting foliage shape. I find I have to remove dead leaves and old flowers from my daylilies multiple times, but the Siberian iris get old flower stalks removed just once annually and the foliage looks good all season. Both will bloom with several hours of morning sun.

Lovely! You have done very well to those orphaned hostas! My garden has mostly "gifted" plants too. Makes me think of "bloom where you are planted"