Rollicking twining Monkshood from China that delights in scrambling up into shrubs or onto thin trellage.  Although a fine and aristocratic perennial, it remains devoid of snobbery embracing chainlink as if it were ornate wrought iron at an Antebellum mansion.  Dusky lavender flowers.

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.

These are from wild collected seed in the Russian Far East.  Light green foliage and spires of white flowers.  A good tough plant and quite attractive.

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.

A fine evergreen Maidenhair Fern from a naturally occurring hybrid between Adiantum aleuticum and A. jordanii.  These are a different clone than the "original clone" and no less desireable with the same fine and wholesome attributes.  Maidenhairs have always been one of the quintessential ferns in our estimation and this is a choice one.

Rare introduction of this epiphytic gesneriad from the eastern Himalaya.  Narrow evergreen leaves on pendant stems with lots of tubular red flowers.  This is ideal for a hanging basket or would work indoors as it is frost sensitive.

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.

In the Himalayas Agapetes would be found as an epiphyte on the mossy trunks and branch crotches.  In this unusual variant, the flowers are creamy white followed by edible pale lavender fruit and its alliance with Vaccinium (blueberries) is easy to see. . Very easy to grow and will tolerate short exposure to light frost but best no colder than zone 9. The hummingbirds loved it.

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 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 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.

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 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.

A European species distinguished in part from Anemone nemorosa by its simple, unlobed leaves and white flowers bearing white or pale blue anthers,  This clone is white on white with a small green central button of the Divine Feminine business parts - altogether a pleasing pairing in the shade garden.  Thanks to plantsman Reuben Hatch for sharing this with us.

A fully double green form found in Michigan by Betty Blake and named for her which only seems right.  This has quite perfect flowers which are more art than botany and whose function lies strictly in the aesthetics rather than in the somewhat banal business of procreation.  Not that the latter isn't fun........................

A new Japanese selection of a favorite eastern US wildflower. This has double white flowers which are quite large and are not the domed buttons of say 'Oscar Shoaf' but more of a flattened button with a thick frill of petals. This will bloom for many weeks on an established clump. These are divisions from our plants and very choice.

Very new selection out of Japan that is like a slightly less tight and paler 'Cameo'. These are surprisingly tough tuberous perennials native to the eastern US and will go summer dormant but before that happens, you will enjoy many weeks of long-lasting double flowers on an eventual impressive-for-its size clump.

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.

Shiny Japanese Holly Fern.  Ok, we made that up but it is pretty close.  Really fine fern which has few rivals in the "Best Shiny Leaf in Cool Ferns" category..  Stiff, waxy, glossy nearly plasticized evergreen foliage is accented by soft yellow patterns.  This is a great plant for the shade garden and easy - you don't have to be Ciscoe to grow this well.

Very hardy Jack in the Pulpit which is the Asian equivalent of our eastern US Arisaema triphyllum.  This Jack is native to the Russian Far East, northern China and Korea and is a variable species but always has green flowers with stripes that are usually white but can be sort of a chocolate purple.  Good bulb for light shade to morning sun.