Location, Location, Location

We've lived here on Lathwell for three years now and, other than the fact that the landscaping made for a fairly private, shady yard, I didn't give it much thought when we moved in. I've never lived anywhere in the Sacramento area that didn't have a yard full of blazing hot sun all summer long and was happy with how considerably cooler this yard and patio are than at my last house where, after a long hot July day, it was still impossible to cool off on the patio after dark since the concrete absorbed the sun's rays all day and held onto the heat all night.

However, I've come to realize that this suburban yard started as any other in our area and while the previous owners took the time to put in some plantings that would later provide the shade and privacy I so enjoy, they filled in most of the beds with things that probably worked great at the time, but have now become unsuitable in the more mature landscape. So, that brings me to where I am now - a gardener with a shady yard, who knows nothing about shade loving plants, having to pull out mature plants that aren't adding much to the landscape and start over.

Here's my list of current "issues":

1. The Fruit Trees. The apple - next to the fence, definitely has to go. It is in a bad spot and most of the branches are now going into the neighbor's yard (where the sun is) and he lops them off (which is probably why it's leaning like that now). I don't think there is any hope for this guy.

The orange, on the other hand, is healthy but only produces about a dozen oranges a year, probably because it's in full shade. At about 7 feet tall, I'm hoping to prune him back and move him - I just have to figure out where to....

Once these two move, and I take out the non-working sink in the corner, I'd like to make a little patio with a picnic table surrounded by fragrant plants back here. Now that's a good use for a shady corner!

2. The retaining wall. This area runs along our entire back fence and has 7 VERY large photinia which makes for a wonderfully leafy privacy screen. This "hedge", coupled with a six foot fence and two large Chinese Tallow Trees, are what combines to keep everything in complete shade, no matter the time of day. Mixed in below the photinia are four Fortnight Lilies. In addition to not being particularly interesting, mine can't manage to stand up straight and never bloom. I've been slowly digging these guys up, dividing them, and giving them to my friends with sunny yards but I need some good replacement plants. Suggestions anyone?

3. The Roses. This argument could go either way - the roses do okay and certainly bloom in the summer, but would probably do much better in a more sunny spot. They tend to send up very long shoots that will reach above the lower tree branches and then bloom 15 feet in the air. I plan to remove a few of them that are in the really deep shade and gift them to my friends who've been begging for them.

4. The Sunny Bed. Okay, so I have one. It's in a good spot too - right next to the BBQ on the patio. The Crepe Myrtle does give a little shade, but not too much. This would make a great little kitchen garden, I just need to pull out the boring shrubs (I don't even know what they are). This is probably the best bed for my little dwarf Meyer Lemon too.

In the background, you can see two of my raised beds. They were there when we bought the house, but have turned out to be useless since they receive all day shade from the tree on one side and the fence on the other. I don't have a clue what I want to do over there. *sigh*

Obviously, I have enough to keep me busy for years and dreaming up new ideas is part of the enjoyment of gardening for me. My biggest plan though is to make plant choices that I can enjoy for many years to come....in the shade.