[tode]

These aren't the big florist's cyclamens, but are very pretty, and do well under trees. In the grass, you can mow when they're dormant.

Any other ideas ?

[Babstreefern]

Bluebells, tulips (the dwarf ones - I have bright orange under my tree which look gorgeous).

[gillie]

We have both the autumn flowering cyclamen, Cyclamen hederifolium and the spring flowering one Cyclamen coum, together with snowdrops and wild violets.  They are followed by self seeded Lilium martagon and a very late wild scarlet tulip whose name I forget.

It annoys me, just a little, that these combinations which are largely self sown are more attractive than some of my more formal efforts.

Cheers,

Gillie

[tode]

Martagon lilies are the orange ones with spots, aren't they ?
Got a pic of the tulips ?

[gillie]

Lilium martagon are usually pinkish to white, with spots on very reflexed petals.  I think it grows wild in parts of the UK, and certainly in parts of France.  It self seeded under the tree.  We had planted some elsewhere which were not happy and died out but now we find occasional ones elsewhere.

The tulip is Tulipa sprengeri. It is only a slender little thing, but such an intense colour that it sings out from the grass which will be getting quite tall by the time it flowers.   My OH planted two or three and now we are up to seven or eight.  They supposedly take seven years to come from seed!

Google either of the names and you will come up with plenty of pics.

My OH strims under the tree once around mid summer, when  the seed has been shed,  the Queen Anne's Lace starts to look untidy and stinging nettles try to take charge.

Cyclamen coum is almost a weed - coming up in the grass all over the place.  We just mow them!  Cyclamen hederifolium we find a little more difficult, possibly because the corms get eaten by mice.  I think yours are Cyclamen hederifolium as coum flowers are shorter and fatter.

Cheers,

Gillie

[tode]

Those lilies must make quite a display 
There's something special about flowers in grass under trees .....

I got some wild Solomon's Seal a few years back, and that does quite well in half-shade. Establishes very easily.

[mumofstig]

I have Aquilegia which self seeds right up to the tree trunk, very pretty in spring and you must have snowdrops.
In summer you could have narcissi byzantinus, lovely in drifts, and it self seeds where it's happy
link

[tode]

Mum: gladiolus byzantinus ?   They must look good in a patch.
I bet you were thinking of narcissus poeticu at the same time    They're great too, nice perfume.

[gillie]

The University Parks in Oxford have a huge drift of Narcissus poeticus growing in light shade.  It looks wonderful, but is done on the grand scale.

Eranthis hyemalis is another one.  We had trouble establishing this, but it is now self seeding gently under a mulberry tree despite the cat peeing on it.

Solomon's seal we have, but it has ceased to prosper.  Maybe it has picked up a virus.

Gillie

[tode]

Black or white, Gillie ?

[mumofstig]

Mum: gladiolus byzantinus ?   They must look good in a patch.
I bet you were thinking of narcissus poeticu at the same time    They're great too, nice perfume.

Doh I knewwhat i meant ..at least the link was right.......not left

[gillie]

Black or white, Gillie ?

Eh?  black or white what?

Gillie

[HilaryG]

 Hi,
I have a geranium that loves to be in shade and does grow happily under trees. It is a native woodland plant in Slovenia and grows everywhere there!
I bought it from Cambridge Garden Plants a long time ago and now it seeds itself very nicely (not too invasive though). It has pale green leaves, medium sized lilac coloured flowers which go on and on. Still flowering now.  It doesn't have an English name as far I'm aware, and I've never seen it for sale in any garden centre. It's latin name is nodosum (svelte lilac) I think.........label's getting a bit old! If you want a couple of plugs I can send you some........not sure how I do that.......anyway just a thought. You've given me lots of good advice this season so it would be a thankyou?  

[tode]

"Eh?  black or white what?"

Gillie   

Black or white mulberry   

[gillie]

Black.  It is cropping very well  this year and there are plenty in the freezer and mulberry stains all over the back door mat.

Gillie