Any Gardeners out there? Flower people?

**jennielynn1970** · 03-21-2008, 06:05 PM

I built a deck on the back of my house last year, and I put up window boxes by my three windows. I tried out pansies last year because they were so cheery and bright looking, but they just would not thrive. I had some lemon scented shrubs out there too, and heather, and they died too (although that might have been water related...

).

My deck faces the east, and it gets a lot of shade. It really doesn't get any direct light because of all the tall houses next to me and infront of the deck (it's a large brick wall of the 1st house in the alley next to our street.

Any suggestions?? I really want to have flowers out there, but I don't want to keep buying flowers that are going to die on me. I just want some that are pretty, smell good, and don't take a lot of care, and don't need direct sunlight.

View of the porch from the back walks between the houses.

Window boxes were attached later, but this is the back of the house by the kitchen.

And this is the front of my house (it's the 5th of 6 row homes built in 1904). It's just the front porch after I painted it, and put up the porch swing, and you can't see the 2nd and 3rd floors on here, but they're not exciting anyway, lol.

**Taz_Zoee** · 03-21-2008, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by jenn_librarian

I just want some that are pretty, smell good, and don't take a lot of care, and don't need direct sunlight.

Aside from the smelling good, I thought these kinds of flowers were called fake.

LOL Just kidding. I'm no good at gardens. Sorry.

**Scooter's Mom** · 03-21-2008, 06:39 PM

My mom had a green thumb. My aunt and uncle do too. Mine is black down to the wrist! I can't grow ANYTHING except weeds.

Good luck finding some plants to grow

**Karen** · 03-21-2008, 07:34 PM

If you don't mind buying them each spring, Impatients will be perfect for that spot. Some people also call them Patient Lucies. They thrive in shady spots, and will blossom and keep blossoming all season long. They don't have any scent, but you'll have your choice of bright or dark colors, and the leaves are a nice dark green. They don't have any scent, but on the plus side, they thrive on benign neglect.

If you want a perennial that will blossom early spring, Forget-Me-Nots are lovely, but unlike Impatients, they have a short season. Violets will blossom every year ...

**Moesha** · 03-21-2008, 09:48 PM

I love Gerbera Daisies. They come in a variety of colors. No scent though. Mine did very nice on my back porch without much sunlight last year. I put them in big pots, but my friend had hers in a window box.

**Catlady711** · 03-21-2008, 10:26 PM

Impatiens are a good choice for an annual, although I never found any scent to them myself, but they love shade and fill out quite nicely.

Vinca Minor (periwinkle) is a nice ivy like plant with purple flowers that likes shade and it's a perinnial.

I've never had much luck, but Bleeding Heart is supposed to like shade.

Hosta likes shade, but the flowers are insignificant and don't have a scent.

I have had daylilies grow on the north side of my house which is also under a huge shade tree all day.

Either way good luck with your plants this spring.

**AbbyMom** · 03-22-2008, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by Karen

If you don't mind buying them each spring, Impatients will be perfect for that spot. Some people also call them Patient Lucies. They thrive in shady spots, and will blossom and keep blossoming all season long.

I also plant impatiens every year in my shady areas and put them in pots on the patio. If they are in pots, I find they must be watered every day.

Also, I started using the potting mix with the fertilizer mixed in so I don't have to worry about it for the rest of the summer.

I've attached some pictures from previous summers so you can see how cheerful they look. Now I'm really looking forward to getting my garden going.