March 25, 2018
Brookfield, MA
On Sunday afternoon, Brookfield Garden Club members and visitors filled Fellowship Hall in the Brookfield Congregational Church to talk about the upcoming gardening season. The day was cool with a sun chasing around the clouds trying to melt the snow off a winter weary landscape. This month’s topic stirred the dormancy out of gardeners with a discussion on “Designing a Multi-Season Shade Garden” by Sturbridge resident Paul Steen.
Steen is a Certified Master Gardener with the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. He also is a volunteer on the Master Gardeners call in Help line. Steen presented a selection of shade perennial plants for a blooming garden from March through November. A Q&A followed the hour-long presentation on everything from how to feed rhododendrons to fertilizer ratios for plants different needs throughout the growing season.
Steen recommended the text, “Taylor’s 50 Perennials for Shade” by Frances Tenenbaum. The book provides comprehensive charts on perennial plants, preferred shade level, soil conditions, height, and months in bloom. Because of the wide variety of plants, Steen focused on white flowering perennials. White flowers are attractive against the different shapes and textures the foliage will grow. The colors are not diluted in the shade and draw the eye into the more densely shaded garden areas.
Shade gardens will benefit from accurately measuring the amount of shade with a tool called: SunCalc Sunlight Calculator. The device will determine the amount of sun or shade in an area of a garden. The amount of sun light will influence the health and longevity of the plantings preferred habitat. Placing a climbing rose-bush in full shade will inhibit the plant’s growth and ability to blossom. However, a crested white iris in the same location may thrive and produce healthy growth flowering yearly.
The types of shade are: Full shade – no direct sun. Part Shade 2 – 4 hours of sun a day. Part Sun 4 – 6 hours of sun a day. Full Sun 6+ hours of sun per day. In New England, the sun is never directly overhead. Our hardiness zones in Central Mass range from Zone 4 – 5. Gardeners are taking a chance on a plant labelled Zone 6.
The suggested white flowering perennials are:
February thru March: Winter Heathers and Hellebore
April to June: Spring bulbs of snowdrops, snow crocus, and winter aconite
Perennials of Crested Iris, Snowdrop anemone, Woodruff, White Meadow Rue, Lily of the Valley, Fuller’s White Phlox and white bleeding heart.
July to August: Snakeroot and White Nancy
September thru October: Liriope, Toad lily and Turtleheads.
At this time, of year, most gardeners have itchy fingers eager to be in the soil. Many a windowsill and greenhouse have annual and vegetable seedlings started. As the snow melts away, gardeners look for the first signs of crocus to appear. The spring birds are returning and animals awaking from dormancy. Another winter is passing. Welcome the turn of the Earth towards longer daylight hours and fresh breezes full of promise.
The Master Gardeners of Massachusetts offers two public helplines
The Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Wednesdays from 12-4
Phone: 508-869-6111 x104
Email at: hortline@towerhillbg.org
The Mass Hort Elm Bank Help Line hours:
April through October:
Monday • Wednesday • Friday, 10 AM to 2 PM
March and November:
Wednesday • Friday, 10 AM to 2 PM
December through February:
Wednesday only, 10 AM to 2 PM
CALL: 617-933-4929
Email at: mghelpline@masshort.org
Recommended local garden centers include:
Bemis Nursery
29 N Brookfield Road
Spencer MA
Spencer Greenery
52 N Spencer Road (Rte. 9)
Spencer MA
Lamoreux Greenhouses
9 Schoolhouse Cross Road
Brookfield, MA
Variegated Gardens
245 Westford Road
Eastford, CT
As published in the Citizen Chronicle – Master Gardener Talks about Multi Season Shade Garden
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