This is from our seed collection on the Chongqing-Guangxi-Guizhou expedition in 2010.  We found this on the summit of the previously unbotanized highest peak in the Wumingshan where it was clambering about on the top of the short scrub.  We were struck by the large seed pods.  Light blue flowers on this vining Monkshood.

This vining monkshood is from our seed collection of this herbaceous vine which was growing in a large shrub hanging out over a stream in a cold rain.  The potential for becoming even wetter was pretty good and fortunately, such a risk proved well worth it as this has large blue flowers with a pale white lip.  This has been a star in our shade garden flowering in late August into September.

Bugbane.  A dusky, dark-leafed plant that appeared as a seedling in our shade garden a few years ago.  We are windy here and which seed from which black-leafed, named form blew in from our sales tables, we cannot say.  We let it be where it landed until it got too large and now it is divisions in pots.  To 4' with late season wands of whitish fragrant flowers.

A subtle woodlander for most of spring and summer until late summer and fall when it suddenly busts a move and starts strutting its stuff.  Fern-like foliage backs small white puffs of flowers in May which become showy clusters of bright white fruit in late summer & fall.  The white version of our red fruited native.

A subtle woodlander for most of spring and summer until late summer and fall when it suddenly busts a move and starts strutting its stuff.  Fern-like foliage backs small white puffs of flowers in May which become showy clusters of bright white fruit in late summer & fall.  The white version of our red fruited native.

Himalayan Maidenhair Fern.  Evergreen to semi-evergreen creeping fern making the the most textural groundcover imaginable.   Salmon pink new growth goes to light olive and finally green leaflets on black wiry stems just 8"-12" high.  Likes a loose moist soil but will tolerate dry when established.

Sadly, this flamboyant Blueberry relative is only hardy in Zone 9 but is an easy and dramatic attention-getter in a pot,  We keep ours in the cool greenhouse over winter but will do fine inside or just bring in during hard freezes.  1" red tubular flowers.

Named by plant guru John Flintoff who found this as an interesting seedling growing in plantswoman Loie Benedict's garden. Light green leaves with a spreading habit and flowers of a soft muted lavender which happily goes with most everything. As long as the soil is reasonably moist, this will be good in sun to light shade and is resistant to deer and rabbits.

Frosted Jade Ajuga.  Hard to believe that this is an Ajuga but it is true.  This choice selection has fantastic foliage and very good dark cobalt flowers.  Not a spreader - this makes a clump with 16" tall stems.  Challenges all of your comfy notions about Ajuga but in a good way.  Great in our shade garden.

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!

From Sichuan where this was growing in an open position in a lightly shaded glade at about 10000' in elevation.  This has small leaves shaped much like a pointed canoe paddle with flower stems to 10"-15" tall bearing small round heads of white flowers sometimes with a diffused pink keel to the outer petals as many in this collection do.

A collection from China of this surpirisingly hardy gesneriad whose identity remains a mystery.  This was growing on a mountain summit in a shaded area with hard limestone outcrops coated in thick moss which proved ideal conditions for this little gem.  Tubular yellow flowers are a delight and has handled 10F in our garden growing in a stump.

A lovely form we brought home from Scotland a few years back.  This varies from the norm of mid-blue flowers by embracing the blending nature.of Impressionist pastels with its goes-with-anything non-confrontational light lavender-blue flowers in April and May.  Not surprisingly, this form is a Libra.

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.

Wood Anemone.  This selection has funny heads of flowers where the petals have become dense clusters dissected white leafy bracts or did the bracts become dense bunches of filigreed snowflake petals?  Either way, quite a piece of floral artwork that garners ample attention.  Great for shade.

This is a large white flowered selection of this little creeping European species.  Ours came from the UK via our friends at the former Hedgerows Nursery whose plant offerings set a very high bar for the rest of us.  This was last listed in the UK in 2008, we believe, and may have been deemed insufficiently distinct from other good white selections to carry its own name.

A fine little European woodlander which can tolerate some sun as well.  Spreading by twiggy rhizomes, this will make a good patch in time when happy,  The semi-double white flowers adds extra petals to the mix, giving lie to the "less is more" maxim because don't we all know in our publicly inaccessible heart of hearts that "more is more"?  Hilda, you work it, girl!

This is regarded as the largest of the Anemone nemorosa cultivars and is a star in our shade garden. It is the perfect underplanting to many other plants as the Anemone is but 10" high or less and creeps on twiggy rhizomes to make a fine, dense patch.

Wood Anemone.  This is a good blue form with flowers darker than many of the blue selections and even though the individual flowers are a little smaller than typical, we don't care as this is such a lovely thing.  Found in the Estonian woodlands by Mart Veerus and introduced we think by Janis Ruksans.

Large lavender blue flowers with a darker reverse grants this little slowly creeping Wood Anemone its own small fiefdom in the shade garden while it is in bloom.  Very pretty indeed.  Of course by mid summer the peasants and serfs rise up with scythes and cudgels to reclaim their land but next year the glorious cycle of rule and revolution is repeated.

This is an exquisite little bit of spring pleasure that was introduced by our friend Urs Baltensberger.  Urs found this dark-leafed form growing wild in the forest on Stammerberg in Switzerland and we are all benefiting from his keen eye.  Purplish new growth is perfect backing for the white spring flowers in mid to late spring.  A key smaller element for shade.

A nice small flowered light pink form of this necessary Anemone species which followed us home from the UK a few years back.  What is a necessary Anemone, you ask?  One which is indispensable in your shade or woodland garden and whose absence would not only be noted but commented upon and repeated, a gardening gaffe going viral.

This little European Woods Anemone is aptly named as an established patch of this in full flower is indeed purity and chastity personified.  Clean white flowers with a central button of doubleness makes this selection the most oft requested nemorosa in our shade garden.

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.

One of the larger flowered varieties of Wood Anemone, this has excellent white flowers which are more than enough to stand alone or perfect in a supporting understory role to larger shrubs and perennials.

We don't have a real name for this one but continue the informal designation given to it by friend and mentor Steve Doonan.  Original Blue just means that it was the first blue one in his collection.  Smaller a bit than 'Robinsiana' but pretty close with dusky blue flowers.  This adds much to the shade garden.

Unnamed or lost name selection of Wood Anemone we received from plantsman non pareil John Flintoff some years back.  This is distinct from others we grow as the white flowers have a reddish pink reverse to the petals which is particularly effective as these nod a bit and you get to enjoy the nice backside.  "Baby got back" - Sir Mix-a-Lot

Seedlings from this very good form of the very variable Anemone obtusiloba which ranges at higher altitudes across the Himalaya into western China.  Our mama plant came home with us from Scotland and is notable for larger blue flowers with 3-4 extra petals beyond the usual 5.  We expect these youngsters to carry on the family tradition.

A tough little creeper with twiggy rhizomes and habit like Anemone nemorosa, this sets itself apart from that clan with double yellow flowers which lights the spring shade garden with a spill of sunshine.  This has fresh green ferny leaves on 3"-6" stems which makes a small carpet increasing over time and can make a fine underplanting for larger ferns,Hostas, Polygonatum or woody plants.

A choice woodland creeper 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.  Very hardy and goes mid to late summer dormant.