red/yellow/orange for dry shade

*dim*... thanks, I have a couple of heucheras that I could move but I do love them so awesome idea!!

Ebay? really, never thought of that.... I wonder what I can pick up uber cheap!!

I have an acer in a pot that is in that area, was planning on utilising that too as it really hates the sun and it isn't very windy just there.

Louise D.... ok, might try a small one. I have no problem buying small plants and waiting for them to grow.

diatheplant.... I have a feeling I have alkaline soil so azaleas won't grow... but I might see if I can pick up a cheap one and see how it gets on. I have a camelia that has followed me round since I was 16 (bought it on work experience at a nursery while at college) and it has lived in a pot all it's life. It would be so good to get it in the ground now I am somewhere I plan on staying for a looooong time!!

After all these fantastic suggestions I will be needing to find some green to break it up lol

 

Heather, mix Ericaceous compost with the soil when planting and the plant will be fine, same goes with your Camellia.

 

btw... have posted a thread about the whole project here

 

Just wondering why you`ve hidden that wonderful brickwork with log-roll? Looking good though.

 

hidden brickwork??? The outer wall is still there. What I have covered is what is left of the wall around the sunken patio, it's too low to expose and it's just been broken off with a sledge hammer so has mortar and stuff.

When I get round to it I'll take a pic from the lawn so you can see the curving wall is still there

 

I have Hemerocallis and Lysimachia growing in dry shade as well as Heuchera/Tellima
(various) - the problem always is that any plant will require light and will always grow towards light. A good shrub for me is the yellow leaved version of Spirea in shade here and flowering well.

 

I guess I would have to put sequestrion down a lot tho.... my camelia goes yellow just from the tap water here.

 

The thing is though Heather, you don`t know if your soil IS alkaline. Nip to your local GC and buy a chemical PH test kit. It should only cost a quid or so.

 

sounds like a plan

 

Here's a thought, if you want to keep the colour going through the winter you could plant aconites in between the other stuff.