Recently I came across a gem of a book at my local library, "Making the Most of Shade" by Larry Hodgson. Anyone interested in an excellent written resource for the shade perennial garden should certainly check this book out. Published in 2005, some of the best features of this book were how it was organized and illustrated.
Making the Most of Shade is full of color photographs demonstrating techniques for creating shade gardens. I can not express how important color photographs are to me when I am trying to select a shade loving perennial flower or plant. Too many books devoted to shade perennial gardens (and gardening in general) rely on black and white photographs for the main body of the text (and occasionally with a few color inserts in the middle). But when I am considering investing time, money and energy into a specific shade perennial flower or plant, I want to really see the plant before selecting it.
Organizationally, this book is clear and easy to follow. It is divided into two main sections. The first section, "Creating a Showcase of Shade," covers all the basics of shade gardening, including a very nice section on problem solving. The second section, "The Best of the Best for Shade," has subsections detailing top picks for shade perennials, shade annuals, bulbs, ferns, grasses and climbing plants for shade gardens. There are additional resources at the end of the book for shade gardens, including lists of websites and recommended books.
Making the Most of Shade is a book I will definitely be purchasing soon for my gardening library. If you are interested in purchasing the book, you can buy it at amazon by using the following link:
For more articles and resources on shade perennial gardens, please return to the Shade Perennial Garden Home Page.
