Can you find someone in your area who has native ferns growing in similar conditions? That's always ideal. I got some ferns from a friend whose backyard is wooded, and those things are like WEEDS. They've spread from the shady moist area where I planted them into the much drier and sunnier area nearby that currently has shastas growing in it. I'm going to let the two of them battle it out. Val

I have the majority of my plants on the N side of the house and all do well. In fact, they have really taken off and I had to remove the old globe abrovitae I planted years ago. Since it gets some sun in the growing season, the below plants will thrive. Like you, we have wet soil all year on that side and since these are mostly woodland plants, they perform well. There is a walkway about 5-8 feet from the side of the house that connects our driveway to the backyard deck. On the side it is planted with the following, (the side closest to the house). I have a Jap. Maple, a staghorn sumac, several hostas and ferns, Solomon's Seal, hydrangeas, Jap. toad lillies, digitalis (foxglove) and yews. There is also a magnolia planted on the NW corner of the lot and it gets sun most of the day since the house and the shed bordering it are not true N-S orientation. On the sunnier side of the walkway, a narrow strip of rocky, hot soil, I have a climbing rose (Ballerena) and a clematis (underplanted with mini roses), as well as drought-tolerant plants, like lavender and sedums since the walkway gets very hot in the summer and the heat reflected from it seems to much for the shade-loving plants. Even though we are only talking about 4 feet, sun-loving plants do well on the N side of the walkway and shade-loving plants do well on the S side of the walkway, along the house. It took a while for me to realize that only a few feet offers a completely different growing area. My advise is to observe how the plants do and plant accordingly. You be surprised how well plants can grow in eth conditions you describe.

You just keep watering; not a spritz or squirt every day, but a long, deep drink every couple of days. They will perk up. Gold Edger's suggestion with the masking tape is a good one. They will all perk up eventually and start sending up new leaves. In the meantime, don't be concerned if a few leaves turn a little yellow. After the new leaves are up awhile, you can carefully pull off "a couple" of bad looking ones. "Sum of All: Came from the nursery having grown crooked. Did my best to prop it up... planted it with eyes straight... it should come back straight next year, right?" Melissa Yes it will. The beauty of spring is that they all get another chance to start anew...no matter how tattered they looked the fall before! Having said this, I have my Sum of All and a Jewel of the Nile planted at the edge of dense shade and they are both leaning toward the light. I have a feeling that if I want them to stop doing that, I'll have to move them to the middle of the bed. Char

Hi Amazin , sorry I'm new at this web stuff ( mostly just a lurker) and couldn't find were I wrote to you the 1st time ... me feel so dumb with this puter stuff... but yes I have 9 begonias and 6 are from Logee's, some are named and other are ( pass a along's ) ..... Named ones= Begonia " Richardsiana" B." Snow Capped " B. "Tea Rose" B. "Hot Tamale" B. "Good and Plenty " B, "Tiny Gem " B. " Silver Queen " The Richardsiana has in pass week took a big flop , and so not sure whats up with it , taken it back into house , hope it was just heat stroking from 100 + daze we have been in for pass couple of weeks here in nastyville , so not sure about it. Two other's unknown named ones but pretty just the same and last one I think mite be B. " Sophia Cecile " not sure. I see you have " My Special Angel " have been looking at it in the catalogs . sorry I'm so long winded.... but sure there must be something in your long list that we can work with . P.s. I wont make it to any plant swap so..... not sure how we would do this if we've a mind to ???? But thanks for your time and effort if thats the only way .