[LoseandWin]

Dana, I am in North Raleigh. We have a wonderful piece of property bordering the Corps of Engineer buffer around Falls Lake. About 30 acres of virgin forest. Too many trees for biking, but wonderful for hiking!

We don't have a lawn (or a lawn mower!), but we have a small field where there used to be a farmhouse that long since burned down. We have a field and brush mower that we use to keep the weed and thorns from getting too out of control there. Closer to our house, we have a big area that is full of flowering shrubs and perennials. I replanted the perennial bed last summer because it was really getting too much shade for the types of plants that were in it. Only filtered sun for most of the day. However, there are a couple of other spots where Bleeding Heart would prbably do OK, so I might try them. Thanks for the info!

[knees2]

Dana, on one occasion or another we have driven through Occoquan, and probably mentioned each time that we should stop there one day. I could make that a starting point for a bike ride one day. I could drive down, bring my bike and do some riding. Then before or after (if we meet outside, lol) we could meet and get to know each other. That would be fun. I am working very hard on equalizing the priorities of the urge to garden and the need to bike. Biking is such good exercise and I don't do it enough, because it so much requires the same weather and time of day as gardening. LOL

[danalhl]

http://boards.dietwatch.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gifLooseandwin where in North Carolina are you??? We aren't far from the border here either..Roanoke Rapids is what I'm talking about.

[danalhl]

http://boards.dietwatch.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gifLooseandwin I think the bleeding heart would be okay if its not deep shade. Mine gets the morning sun and has kind of filtered shade through the hot part of the afternoon.

[danalhl]

http://boards.dietwatch.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gifKnees I was raised in Natural Bridge but now live about 5 minutes from Petersburg!! Bleeding heart can be split just like any other perennial..it doesn't have tubers like hosta if thats what you mean. They don't like to get their feet too wet so if your trouble spot is a water problem forget the bleeding heart!!
Do you ever go to occoquan??? I would be there everyday if I could!! We also love to go to Fredericksburg do you ever go there???

[LoseandWin]

So that's what those pretty little blue flowers were all over my garden.. You are right, Knees, the garden they were in is fringed by virgin forest.

Danalhl, do you think the bleeding hearts would be a good shade plant for a hundred miles farther South - N. Carolina?

[knees2]

I've been thinking about bleeding hearts for a trouble spot in my back yard. How do they multiply? root shoots? seedlings? DO I have to go to Behnke's or snatch a baby from you? LOL. Maybe we should get together. I hate Potomac Mills but would come down to meet, lol. You are Wayyyy down in Virngia,a aren't you? Like Natural Bridge??? or are you in the Virginia suburbs?

[danalhl]

http://boards.dietwatch.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gifKnees you are right up the road from me!!!!!! We come up your way all the time...my friends and I go to Occoquan every chance we get..we also hit Potomac Mills on occasion!!!
Sounds like you all are about 2 weeks behind us in bloom time. Wish you could see my bleeding heart it is covered this year!!

[knees2]

I live in Washington DC. IN town, near Catholic University, about 4 miles or a 12-minute subway ride from work.

Bluets are tiny, tiny little wildflowers; a little bell on very fragile stems and slender leaves. Reaching about 4 inches, if they have to stretch for light; 3 if they are in a leave-less, more sunny environment. You can see them on the verge of woods, 5 to 10 feet into the woods under oaks, etc. I have two humongous trees on either side of my house (one pin
oak, one hickory). Therefore my front yard is totally shady and stone-hard with roots. It took me the good part of ten years to make anything grow. Now I have a wonderful spring look and pretty decent during the summer. It is quite different form a traditional front yard look, and I like that. LOL I am terrible with plant names but would love to tell you what I managed to get growing under those hard conditions. I'll look it up in my plant books and will tell you next time.

[danalhl]

Where do you live I can't remember??? For some reason Texas is ringing in my brain...What are bluets...are you talking about bluebonnets???