I have a shady patch about 8 feet square currently part of the lawn that I
want to dig up and plant with daffs and crocus. Any advice as to what else I
could plant so it doesnt remain bare after May?
Thanks and regards
Seb

In article , Seb Flyte
writes
I have a shady patch about 8 feet square currently part of the lawn that I
want to dig up and plant with daffs and crocus. Any advice as to what else I
could plant so it doesnt remain bare after May?

When you say 'shady' how shady do you mean/ - more particularly - how
dry? Daffs don't particularly like being dry in the summer, so if it's
dry enough that the grass isn't growing there, I'd go for hardy cyclamen
rather than daffodils.

Otherwise, if it's shaded by deciduous trees but reasonably moist, daffs
should do well, coming up and flowering before the trees are in full
leaf.

Crocuses are heat sensitive - they only open when they are warm enough.
In practice outdoors this means when the sun is on them (though if your
bring a pot of crocuses into a warm but sunless room they will open
because of the heat). If you think this might be a problem, you could
try miniature tulips for the same sort of warm colours, or scillas and
chionodoxas for blues and whites.

As to later in the year, I'd suggest perennials that come up each year
after the daffs are over. I have daffs mixed with hardy geraniums and
that works well (the bigger green looser growthed green leaves geraniums
on the whole tolerate shade, the neat compact greyer leaves ones need
sun, but checking the individual species is better), also Heuchera
(especially the red or purply leaves ones for extra colour), Astrantia
(doesn't like dry soil), Rogersia for big dramatic leaves (doesn't like
dry soil), Tiarella.

The overall effect will be of a variety of leaf pattern and shape with
soft pink, blue and white flowers. The bright red, yellow and orange and
deep blue flowers tend on the whole to want more sun - rule of thumb
only, I hasten to add!

Alternatively, crocuses and daffodils can be naturalised in grass. You
would need to leave the grass uncut for 6 weeks - 2 months after they'd
finished flowering so the leaves could build up enough food reserves
for flowering next year. My preference would be to use the smaller
daffodils, more the size of our own wild daffodil, for this - they don't
look as untidy.

And don't forget autumn flowering crocus
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"