Shade-loving plants
By JOAN CROTHERS Towns Sentinel Editor

Astilbe is a very colorful shade perennial that will also grow in the sun. Its plumes come in red, white, pink, and purple. It grows from 10 to 48" and needs consistent moisture so mulch well. Fertilize twice a year with 10-10-10, spring and fall.

Don't cut those trees! You can grow many beautiful flowering plants in that lovely shade. Here in the mountains the altitude and the shade do keep things cooler so let's not mess with cooler.

Try to plant a variety of textures and shades of colors for an interesting and colorful -and cool-garden to sit in with your family and friends.

Check on these shade plants that all have blooms. If your flower beds are already established, then think about changing a few plants in the fall-a good time for planting: Astilbe, Berginia, Snakeroot, Coral Bells, Tall Goats Beard, Hosta, Lady's slipper, Ligularia, Martagon lily, Monkshood, Pulmonaria, Foamflower.

Hosta are wonderful shade plants and come in a great range of colors, from variegated (several varieties) to big, dark blue leaves. Use them as a border as they grow low, and they bloom on tall, thin spikes. If you see holes in the middle of the leaves, it's slugs. You can put a container with beer near them (beer is their death-wish) or spread a ring of diatomaceous earth around the plants as slugs stay away from its sharp edges.

Monkshood grow 12 to 18" high and bloom in late summer with blue or white blooms, adding a splash of color different from the yellow and oranges of summer. The flower stalks do become heavy so stake or hoop them. All parts of the plant are extremely poisonous so be careful when you handle them, wear gloves.