Mailorder Nurseries Online and Off - 7, Underwood Shade Nursery

This week, I want to tell you about a small nursery especially for all of us who garden in shade. It's not online, yet, but Russ Bragg, co-owner with his wife, Connie Wick, of Underwood Shade Nursery in Massachusetts, tells me that a web site is in the planning stages.

Some of you who have been online for a while and subscribe to various gardening email lists may already know Russ. You can reach him via email at shadeplant@ici.net with any questions or a catalog request.

Or just send your $2.00 (US) to:

Underwood Shade Nursery
PO Box 1386
North Attleboro, MA 02763
voice: 508-222-2164
fax: 508-222-5152

Russ and Connie grow perennials, ferns and grasses suitable for varying degrees of shade.

Their well-organized catalog provides, in addition to a concise description of each plant: botanical and common names, zones, shade tolerance (and he's even defined what his ratings mean to him, so there'll be no mistake), soil requirements, size, blooming season, and whether or not the plant is favored by bambi. Russ is the first to admit that no plant is ever totally deer proof, but the ones he's designated are generally agreed to be on the bottom of bambi's menu preferences. He also tells you the best ways to propagate many of the plants. Pot size is pointed out right inside the front cover...something you often have to hunt for in catalogs.

If you're near North Attleboro, you can stop by and visit their nursery and garden, but you have to call ahead, don't just plan on dropping in unannounced! Russ will also come to your garden and make a site evaluation for you and he's available for speaking engagements for your club or organization He'll come equipped with slides, projector and handouts as well as first-hand knowledge of which plants grow well in the shade.

I've gotten plants from Underwood and been well-pleased with them and the careful way they were packed for shipping. This year's catalog adds many new ones and includes a bunch that I'd like to have in my USDA zone 7 garden.

Russ kindly sent me slides of some of their plants to scan and use in this article, so let's talk about some plants on my lust list and some that should be on yours if you don't already grow them.

Plants - More Plants!

Allium cernuum (nodding onion) is one of the tribe who will do well in either sun or part shade. Like most members of this family, it wants well-drained soil that's not overly rich; they will even put up with fairly dry conditions. If your soil is on the clay side, incorporate some coarse sand along with organic matter when you prepare it for planting.

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