A thread for @sophiemezzo who’d like to do something with this shady corner of her rented garden (it gets morning sun). And to anyone else who’s interested! These are just a few ideas to consider and remember I’m only an amateur. #PickAndMix #FlowerLove #SolaceInNature 1/

The first thing I spy is a #StrawberryPot that’s been left behind, so I’d strongly recommend planting some strawberries and keeping the pot raised off the ground, away from pesky slimy creatures who like the fruit rather too much. 2/

Next I’d put in a #Clematis to train up the wall. #MontanaElizabeth is a nice choice (obviously!). The buds on mine are gearing up to burst forth. 3/

Then I’d put in lots of #Spring interest. Here are a few of my favourites. #TakeYourPick
First off, #Hellebores. Some of the earliest flowers to bloom and seriously beautiful. Go on for months too. 4/

#ForgetMeNots Some of the sweetest of spring flowers. They self-seed like mad so just keep an eye on them as they can turn into thugs. Just rip out those that are getting too brutish. 5/

#Dicentra or #BleedingHeart Gorgeous pendulus pink and cream droplets with delightful feathery foliage, often a lovely limey, pale green. Look beautiful alongside... 6/

#Brunnera Tiny flowers similar to forget-me-nots but more vivid and intense in their blueness. The foliage of this #JackFrost is a wonderful variegated cream and soft green. What’s not to love? 7/

#Aquilegias or #GrannysBonnets. So many different shades of flowers and so soft and bell-like. They dance in the wind. 8/

#Pulmonarias These bulk up quickly into clumps that can easily be divided to make new plants in spring or autumn. Shades of pink, purple, blue, opal and white with lovely mottled foliage. Hard working and bees love them. 9/

#PrimulaPolyanthus You can’t go wrong with these and there are some real stunners. Relations of the common #Primrose, which is also lovely, but with far more intricate petals and taller stems so the flowers get less eaten by slimey critters. 10/

#Daffodils #Tulips #Alliums I’d definitely plant some bulbs. Relatively cheap and will spread and increase over time. 11/

Moving into summer and you can’t go wrong with #AlchemillaMollis or #LadysMantle. Gorgeous like green fluffy flowers and pretty shaped leaves. Particularly beautiful after rain. Virtually indestructible. 12/

I’d add wildflowers for summer - #Foxgloves #Cornflowers #Poppies (this one’s an ornamental variety) 13/

I’m a complete convert to #Nerines now and these bulbs will take you beautifully into autumn. 14/

For foliage interest #Heucharas are fab with their deep red leaves. And in summer they have the daintiest, feathery, bell-like flowers on tall stems that waft in the breeze. 15/

#Cyclamen are a welcome autumn-winter stalwart. Super flowers, but it’s the leaves that are the real stars for me. And that will take us back round to #Hellebores again! 16/

Hope that gives some ideas. Alternatively you could just plant the area up with ferns which give lush green foliage for the majority of the year, but I’d personally prefer some colour throughout the year if possible. 17/

I’m sure others will put forward their ideas too - this is just a selection from my head and my garden. But the most important thing is that you gain pleasure from the planning, the executing and the sitting back with a glass of wine and enjoying. Good luck! End thread. 18/