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Our collection of this exceptional form of this distinctive vining species of Monkshood from the wooded slopes of Longshou in Sichuan. It was an overcast day on this our first day in the field in the fall of 2012. The summit of Longshou was completely socked in which is frustrating to a plant hunter aside from missing out on spectacular views. As we made our way down the mountain, we got below the clouds and exciting plants started to pop out - Schisandra in full red fruit, 5' tall Arisaema, Vaccinium delavayi and off to the right, a flash of bright color. We hurried over and it was an climbing Monkshood in full bloom with eye catching reddish-purple flowers. The excitement turned to lamentations as it was in bloom which meant there was no seed which was a total downer. The lamenting turned to exultant whoops as we noticed this species had aerial stem bulbils in the leaf axils which are even better than seed. We think this is quite superior to other color forms of this rare species and have given it the name 'Monk Gone Wild' because it is a pretty crazy color for a Monkshood plus this monk managed to remain technically celibate yet still have lots of children via these stem bulbils.

This is a surprisingly hardy Brazilian species. Good cut flower with long clean stems. We've had this growing happily outside for years and going through single digits in winter with mulch. We got this from Maggie at Western Hills some years ago and finally can offer this goody. She said this was a hybrid by noted California breeder Fred Meyer between the vining Bomarea and the non-vining Alstroemeria, and we have sold it in the past as Alstroemeria x Bomarea 'Fred Meyer' and more recently as Bomarea "Fred Meyer". The great thing about putting a plant on the internet is that all sorts of smart people read about it and very nicely suggest the correct name.

Rare plant found only in limited areas in central Honshu, Japan where it likes the forest fringes in the subalpine areas and is known as hiiragi-sou or holly tree-leafed weed. Hiiragi-sou sounds better than the translation. This selection has dark blue flowers and is a deciduous clumper to 16" tall - very nice!

This little European Woods Anemone is aptly named as an established patch of this in full flower is indeed purity and chastity personified although I have enough miles on me that experiences with either purity or chastity have been relegated to the dustbin of uncertain memory. The white flowers with a central button of doubleness makes this selection the most oft requested Anemone nemorosa in our shade garden. Carol Klein once described this as "the bell of the ball" when comparing it to other Anemone nemorosa cultivars and we find nothing in that statement to dispute.

Maidenhair Spleenwort. We love common names. We must dig out our 15th century Herbal and read up on how to properly decoct this sweet little fern for afflicting humors of the spleen. Or we can just grow it in a gritty well-drained shaded rock garden and enjoy its evergreen delicate appearance which belies its rugged constitution. This little fern grows throughout the northern part of the northern hemisphere and just has a small foothold in our North Cascades. One of our favorite sights of this fern was when we did the Coast to Coast walk in northern England in the epic rainy summer of 2012 and we walked close to 200 miles through the Lakes District and Yorkshire Dales and Moors. We saw this growing everywhere naturalized on old stone walls, stone bridges and stone buildings. Very attractive and a clue to its drainage preferences.

Frosted Jade Ajuga. A rare Ajuga the likes of which you may have never seen. We all are familiar with the utilitarian carpeting-with-abandon slug magnet ubiquitous in gardens everywhere. This is a different critter altogether and resembles Bugleweed about as much as a Bichon Frise does a Junkyard Dawg. Stays put in a clump with erect stems to 16" with showy leaves of white, green and cream and intense violet blue flowers. This has been one of the most asked about plants in our shade garden and when we say what it is, the answer usually is "That's an Ajuga? Do you have it?" It is completely deciduous as well which is another mind boggler. And for slugs - they do like this one too, but really it is mainly the new shoots in early spring. We just keep an eye on the growth and if they are getting nibbled then we go out one or two evenings and inflict bodily harm and don't worry much about the plant afterwards.

Soft blue flowers on this Wood Anemone play nicely with the lightly bronzed emerging new leaves. Our plant came from David Mason and Susie Grimm at Hedgerows Nursery who picked this up in the UK. We always like tracing the lineage of acquisition as it helps fill in those empty hours you have so many of when you have a nursery...

This blueberry relative was an exciting find from a small mostly deforested limestone ridge in Vietnam. It was a small compact 12"-18" shrub growing both in the rocks and epiphytically with orchids on the few trees left. Evergreen with boss white tubular flowers and a red berry sheltered by 3 large red bracts. Edible. This will get larger with longer stems when growing in cushy cultivation.

Choice selection of the Wood Anemone with flowers densely packed with numerous small white petals which appear all white at first but as the flowers mature or awaken, a central blue eye is revealed which is quite delightful. I go through a similar slow process every morning and tell myself that it is the same delightful end result.

This is the coveted true species unlike the usual Allium sikkimense which is what you get from most seed exchanges. Ours came from Ian Christie in Scotland and with Ian's name as provenance, there is little doubt. Besides we flowered it and it is correct! Thin grassy leaves in dense tussocks with small headed blue flowers in late summer. A Chinese species that is not one of the bulbous summer dormant types but appreciates moisture during the summer and is quite easy despite its relative scarcity.

Also found as Potentilla lineata. We originally received seed of this back in the 90's from a Chris Chadwell collection in Nepal. An exceptional foliage plant with long silken silvery leaves and tall loosely arrayed yellow flowers in early summer, which we have offered in the past simply as Potentilla sp. This was misidentified by another nursery in the area as P. gelida and as a result, is in the trade here as P. gelida which is unfortunate as it bears little similarity to this ornamentally uninteresting species. Then to make matters more complicated P. lineata recently became Argentina lineata nonetheless it is one of our favorite herbaceous Potentilla-like plants which Chris ID'd for us here in the summer of 2013.

This has grown into one of our favorite plants. Much like an Eremurus or Foxtail Lily in effect with basal strappy leaves and a 4'-6' tall branched flower spikes in May and June with lots of pale peach tinted white flowers opening from reddish-striped buds. Longest-lived in sandy soils and late summer dormant.

An intriguing curiosity that combines beauty with novelty. In this selection, the flower petals have become lacy green petaloid structures that are perfectly arranged to create amusing and intricate green flowers. A fun addition to the shade garden.

A very attractive introduction by us from Yunnan if we do say so. Broad lightly hairy leaves in a dense clump with lots of large soft lavender daisy flowers fringed heavily in very fine petals surround a prominent dark "cone". This steals the show in mid to late July here in our gardens. Karen, a friend of ours who has exceptional taste was strolling the gardens last night (July 20), saw this Aster blooming and said "I want that plant!". And she had barely touched her glass of wine so it was a completely valid assessment. When shipped in the fall, we'll need to cut this plant back.

A refined shade plant that would grace any plant connoisseur's garden yet is perfectly happy to hang with us average Joes. Leaves evoking Anemone and pendant flowers combining pastels and lavenders in an understated parasol of exquisite design and dimension. A plant that is not on the radar of a lot of gardeners so let's keep it to ourselves. It has been pleasingly tough and durable in our shade garden.

A choice woodland creeper to 6"-8" tall for the shade or partly shaded garden where it behaves like Anemone nemorosa - making a mat of ferny foliage but in this case, it has vibrant yellow flowers. A patch of this is to be coveted and the twiggy rhizomes can be easily divided or broken in winter to spread about. Very hardy and goes mid to late summer dormant.

As they begin to emerge and unfurl, the huge trifoliate leaves catch the 30"-40" threadlike spadix appendage dangling from the white-striped, maroon-purple hooded flowers and carry it aloft in a decidedly wanton display. The horizontal rhizomes will increase over time leading to several flowering stems, becoming something about which one has no recourse but to brag shamelessly. This Jack in the Pulpit has proven itself over many years to be a stellar performer in our shade garden. There are some Jacks that languish or don't persist but this simply gets bigger and better every year. The rhizomes can push up near the surface so check in the Fall and mulch if necessary - most prudent in the event of severe winter cold. Seed-grown, these are still small tubers but of all the things you have waited for in your life, this surely must rate among the most worthy.

One of the better selections of Aucuba and very rare in the nursery trade. This was brought to the US by the now defunct Asiatica Nursery and shared with us by Lance Reiners. Narrow leaves consistently freckled in gold presents as major pizzazz with unmistakable elegance. A tough evergreen tolerant of dry shade once established. Zones 7-9.

This is a heralded Japanese Jack in the Pulpit whose species name sikokianum I believe translates into English as 'divine whup-ass' because this truly and gloriously kicks some tail in the garden. A mysterious yet provocative regal beauty. A classic for the shade garden.

Fabulous wine-colored (red - not white) vining Monkshood that cannot fail to please with late summer into fall flowers. Perfect for sun to light shade, this will make annual growth of 10'-15' if it has something to twine onto. Best part, it's poisonous - take that, deer! Thanks to Renaissance plantsman Graeme Ware for sharing a bit years back as we failed too many times with seed.