I am looking for plants that bloom after like the lilies start dying off, mums, althea (pink) or any others you might have. Just throw offers my way. You may take a look at my list to see if I have anything you have. I can also send postage. Please reply here or email me at gpborger@consolidated.net I do tend to check my email more often. Thanks Paula

I agree w/ cousin, any help from the shade would probably be very marginal. I have one peach tree in winter shade and it doesn't bloom any later than the others. I once read a research article that spraying a whole peach tree with a diluted mix of white latex paint delayed bloom by one week. I've never tried it because of too many trees. If you have just a few trees on the north side of your buildings, it might be worth the effort.

I live in upper zone 7... which means frost around Mid-October and then warm-ups off and on until it gets more dependably cold in late November to mid February. I grow almost entirely bearded iris, and I have successfully transplanted them until maybe 3rd week of September, but had only moderate survival rates (maybe 50%)later than that. What seems to happen is FROST HEAVE yanking them out of the ground before the roots can set deep enough to really anchor the plants. Possible solution: mulch with something that will keep the soil from freezing (but be careful not to bury the rhizome itself... it could rot)... or surround with heavy rocks. Rocks moderate soil temperature plus their sheer weight has a little "anchor" effect, too. I have to put rocks around all my iris when first set just to keep the armadillos from digging them up. Bearded Iris can also be stored for quite a long time (several months) in a well-ventilated back room that's comfortable-to-you. It will cost you a year's bloom, but most of them will be just fine to plant when the weather is more friendly. Check them occasionally to be sure they are not molding or infested with insects (a few apids can multiply to a fatal epidemic), and be sure they are lying BARE ROOT, not packed in anything to retain moisture. The roots on them will dry up, but you will see tiny nodes where new roots are eager to spring into action, and they will begin to grow when they hit warming soil with moisture.

Ditto: have always planted in Fall. Do you have a nursery bed you can grow them on this year without expectation of bloom? Cut flowers if you're lucky. I think it'd be better to let them grow & store some 'food' (sun, fert) this season than expect them to hold over the summer.