Said I Wouldn't, Did it Anyway

That "said I wouldn't" would be to add yellow foliage to my garden. I've never enjoyed the look of yellow foliaged plants and the main reason is because here in southern Idaho when the summer sun gets going plants can tend to look a bit "over-baked." To me, yellow foliage has always tended to appear sickly in our heat and strong sunlight.

Well, my friend Teresa at Seasonal Wisdom has been busy adding yellow foliaged plants to her garden. And I've been watching. Watching with skepticism. But watching. And thinking.

And then here's what I remembered. We already have at least one yellow foliaged plant in our garden and I love it.

This is Sambucus Nigra 'Madonna', a shrub that grows to about five feet. We moved it last year into partial shade and it seems more in control and has put on its first blooms.










I love this shrub in its semi-shady spot.















So I took a leap of faith this year and added four (that's right FOUR) Heucherella 'Gold Zebra'. I planted them among Heuchera 'Prince'.

I like the way it lightens up the area. (How many times have I read that sentence when gardeners are talking about yellow foliaged plants?)

Planted behind these heuchera/ellas are some large hostas.





Then I went absolutely crazy and bought three of these. Adriatic Bellflower 'Dickson's Gold'.



They are planted at the edge of a bed between Carpathian harebell 'Blue Clips.'

How could I resist these pretty little flowers?



And besides, all together now, "I like the way it lightens up the area."

Some things I've come to realize.
1. The trees we planted along the way in our garden are putting out some nice shade.
2. Yellow foliaged plants can look exceptional in that shade.

Any "Aha's" been coming at you lately?