Shade Gardens

This small woodland of river birch nestled along the shoreline of Starkweather Creek features hundreds of shade-loving taxa of perennials, including hostas, epimediums and sedges. These beauties demonstrate the possiblilities of shade gardening in the Upper Midwest and create a quiet sanctuary for visitors to sit and enjoy.

This shady oasis created by the framework of a large native downy hawthorn is home to another fine collection of hostas, ferns and shade-loving perennials. A stunning display of thousands of Siberian squill each April, create a cobalt carpet across the gardens' floor, eventually giving way to crisp emerald foliage emerging from a winters sleep. Pristine white flowers of silver bells and vibrant blossoms of rhododendrons and crabapples abound in this shady garden.