As perennials go, this Mexican Pea Tribe member is staggeringly impressive.  From a woody base, there appears in spring stout stems reaching 8 feet..  On a mature plant, these stems are numerous and it becomes a dominant seasonal shrub. Pinnate leaves with 4 leaflets, large discoidal purple- veined stipules and big yellow flowers in fall.

This choice Chinese perennial is related to our native Ginger or Asarum and Saruma being an anagram of Asarum is what passes for humor in botanical nomenclature.  Felty heart shaped foliage bronze when young and half inch yellow flowers right away and through the summer.  Easy.

Allegheny Brook Foam or Brook Saxifrage.  A never common species native streamsides and moist locations in woodlands from West Virginia down into Alabama and Georgia.  Reddish stems and attractive leaves with nice white flowers in late spring.  This adds to the necessary layer of complexity in the shade garden.

This is maybe the best variegated Red-Twig Dogwood selection with green leaves boldly margined in golden yellow and the contrast with the red twigs is pretty darn good.  The red twigginess is showy in the winter and great foliage spring and summer - what more do you need?

A perennial (usually anyway) thistle relative from South Africa which makes a multicrowned clump of softly spiny leaves which by themselves merit nothing more than a good hosing of Roundup but the large purplish flowers are the swan emerging from the ugly duckling.

Gray Pine or California Foothills Pine.  What are the chances that you might be interested in a drought tolerant, deer-proof tree?  Pretty damned good if you live in Port Townsend with its Mediterranean climate and way too many bold as brass deer.  Gray-green needles on a tree 30'-40' tall which can get taller but not in your lifetime.

Our collection from Asia of what we presume to be the super-hardy Zingiber mioga but there are a lot of species to choose from! Corn foliage and cute ground-level soft yellow orchid flowers at ground level which are a worthy reward for a deep bend at the waist. These flower weeks earlier than our CDHM 14723 collection and have a wider labellum with the whole flower evenly colored. A worthy reward for a deep bend at the waist.

Toad Lily.  Our collection from Asia   This toadie was found on the lower flanks of the mountain we were exploring where it favored openings in the forest where it got dappled light and a brief bit of direct sun.  Distinct softly haired velvety leaves with white flowers ruby spotted on the reflexed tepals.

This is maybe the best variegated Red-Twig Dogwood selection with green leaves boldly margined in golden yellow and the contrast with the red twigs is pretty darn good.  The red twigginess is showy in the winter and great foliage spring and summer - what more do you need?

This is maybe the best variegated Red-Twig Dogwood selection with green leaves boldly margined in golden yellow and the contrast with the red twigs is pretty darn good.  The red twigginess is showy in the winter and great foliage spring and summer - what more do you need?

Award of Garden Merit from the RHS, this has wonderfully elegant flowers of a long thin waist and two narrow long recurved petals one top and one bottom.  The flowers are nicely scented and open white and then age to a soft yellow for a pleasing two-toned effect.  Evergreen, hardy in the PNW with good vigor.