Shade Gardening: Gardening in the Woods, 1 by bugme

bugme wrote:
Well ladies, I'm in the same boat, however, we bought this property for the woodlands surrounding us (roughly 7 acres behind us are ours and both sides are deeply wooded), which provide us with lots of privacy and wonderful scenery. In addition, the birds we see are lovely, some on their way home to the North in the summer. The hardwoods are a treat for them as well as other wildlife. We decided to accept what is there and plant around it. Mind you, it is frustrating at times not being able to plant what looks beautiful in pictures, but, when you REALLY look at some of the natives growing, you appreciate what was there before you arrived. As far as deer go, I've been lucky there must be enough growing away from the flower beds we've planted that they like, they've only destroyed one hosta in the 10 yrs. we've been here. A few of the natives for beauty........first is 'sparkleberry' a type of wild blueberry