One of the most common misconceptions I come across in gardening is that shade is somehow less good than sun, or that it is a problem to be solved. Not so. As a rule, shade adds both depth and quality to the range of plants you can grow, as well as aesthetic pleasure for the gardener.
Gardens would be immeasurably duller without plenty of shade. I love the plants that thrive in it as well as the way in which light moves to bring texture and depth to what would be a flat desert in unbroken sun. Almost all shade shifts and varies in intensity. Many leaves merely filter the light, casting a gentle, even delicate, shadow that improves not just the cultivation but also the appearance of many plants, and even the darkest of back yards can become a beautiful garden.
