There are yellow Mimulus that are shade plants. A lot of them aren't completely yellow but are more spotted, but there are some that are all or mostly yellow.

My impatiens were virused last season.I dont intend to use them for awhile,maybe a couple of years.
After I bought and planted mine there was a mention of the virus on ATP. Mine looked good after a couple of month in the ground, then stuff happened. There was no great display that fall late Aug thru late September.

This is the area on June 5 2013.Impatiens are in front


Impatiens are behind the pole



July 29


This pix was Aug 3. by a week later they crumpped.

I think I had the impatiens downey mildew in 2012. I started them from seed and they did great.



In early August they very suddenly bit the dust



Karen

Ohhhh yes.Mine looked like that bu Aug. I figured it was virus.I never saw signs of mildew.Leaves dropped and it took less than a week for the plants to be nude.

Last year I used a few nursery-bought New Guinea impatiens in that area, as well as wax begonias. I'll probably do something similar this summer.

I love the New Guineas too, but they're pretty expensive to buy. I've never tried them from seeds. Has anyone else done them from seeds?

Karen

Karen, that's how mine looked in late summer. I'm glad to know the potting compost I was so happy with wasn't the culprit, but am most saddened by this issue. Looks like I may rely more heavily on Begonias- I do love them, and your Dragon begonias (was it last year or the year before?) were a great inspiration!

Susie, I've been really tempted by Mimulus- so many vibrant colors they offer, and I love how they remind me of little Snapdragons. But I've read they resent heat and humidity, so I've avoided them. Perhaps I should try a few this year- I did see some lovely ones at the garden centers last spring. Curious if any of you with summer heat and humidity have grown them and how they performed?

Jo Ann, how disheartening that must have been! They look so gorgeous there, and your Caladiums too.

Speaking of Begonias above, I've tried tuberous types several times, and they start out beautifully, get some of those amazing blooms, then summer heat arrives and they melt. I've been scouring the Brent&Becky's summer catalog, and read that the only tuberous varieties they offer are those that have performed well in their summer heat and humidity. They have 4 selections from the On Top series, including an orange w/red picotee, 'Calypso' and a yellow w/ red picotee, 'Sunset' that I'm considering for the shady deck this spring. Have any of you tried them?

I don't seem to have the touch with New Guinea types. They're so gorgeous and tempting at the garden centers, but whenever I've tried them, they just don't grow. What am I doing wrong? They will stay pretty for a few weeks, but don't gain much in size, then just stop blooming and sit there...

I don't know Neal, New Guineas have always done pretty well for me. The regular walleriana types are more finicky as far as sun and drought. They always want pampering, lots of water. I find the New Guineas more self-sufficient but expensive.

The Dragon Wing begonias are my new favorite annuals.

I started a few from seeds a few weeks ago, they're still tiny. I'm also trying the Santa Cruz this year.
http://www.harrisseeds.com/sto...
Begonias from seeds are such slowpokes!

Wax begonias have been pretty bulletproof for me. They tolerate horrible heat, humidity, drought, and never miss a beat. I have started them from seed, but they're so readily available, and so cheap, that I usually buy them by the cell packs. Last year I paid $1.89 a 6 pack. Not worth growing from seed at that price.


For sunnier areas vincas give a look much like impatiens, too.


Karen

Perhaps I'll try New Guineas again. There are some gorgeous ones with red and orange blooms, and yellow variegation that would certainly have the look I'm going for. The deck receives mostly filtered shade, with some morning sun- do you think they would like that? Hmmm....but what about the disease issue? Are they prone to it like the regular ones?

No, they're not supposed to be as susceptible.

http://extension.umass.edu/flo...

Karen

I am looking into Dragon Wing begonias.Those are fantastic.

Karen, that's good to know, thanks for the info.

Jo Ann, you see why I was so inspired- fantastic indeed!

Your planters are great, Neal! I got inspired for exactly the same reason; what a boring lot of plastic planters I have, but with a coat of cheapo acrylic craft paint in various colors and in my case the addition of some swirls and leaf like shapes, I had a great display for my hardy succulents. I can't believe that this paint has lasted as long as it has.

Nice, BlueFox! Those look like they have a flat/mat texture, which helps paint adhere. The shiny smooth plastic is the toughest, but I found using a fine grit sandpaper on them is helpful. Did you prep them before painting?

The snow is falling, the driveway is icy, and it's darn cold out there, so I'm researching my options for my containers this year. That problem of finding yellow, orange, and red flowers that tolerate shade (since my old faithful, Impatiens, is off the table this year) has been giving me fits. Couldn't sleep last night, so I got up and ordered bulbs from Brent&Becky's. I did order a couple of things for my containers, Oxalis regnellii 'Pot of Gold' sounded like a good one for a couple of my small pots. It's filtered shade in that spot, so I think they should be happy. There are also a couple of spots that get a good dose of afternoon sun, where Geraniums (Pelargoniums) performed well, so I picked up some yellow Zephranthes (Z.flavessima and Z.citrina) to try there.

Now I'm browsing the Karutz Greenhouse site, and saw that they are carrying a lovely selection of Achimines, including some orange and yellow varieties! Its been many years since I grew Achimines, but I recall them being very easy and blooming their hearts out. Thinking that may be the answer, and they grow from tubers that can be brought inside for winter and left dormant in the pots, so it may just be a nice long term investment!

Fabulous in the blue's of course Blue fox.

I'm going Aubergine, Russets and Golds this year with Mossy Greens. That will blend with anything blooming!

David, that sounds lovely! I enjoy those autumnal tones, and like mixing those foliage colors among the hotter bloom colors. I find the garden bed that is seen from my deck, is very subdued warm, autumnal tones like that in late spring, being primarily bearded Irises and bronze and gold foliage at that time. In earlier spring it's bright, with lots of Daffodils (and will be extra bright this spring, as I've added lots of Tulips in reds, oranges, and yellows), then the muted tones take over. After that, the Lilies and Daylilies fire things up again.

I just placed my order for Achimines, 5 rhizomes of each.
Flamboyant
Flamenco
Tetra_Orangerote_Charm
Yellow_Beauty
Yellow_Queen

Karutz was the only company I could find selling them. Brent&Becky's used to offer a couple of varieties, but aren't carrying them this year. Seems I recall they only offered blue/purple/pink selections anyway.

And my first thought after you mentioned spring was;..."David...!....How could you leave out your favorite color in the world?!!!

The lime (Spring) and celedon greens (Sage green is on the eves of my house now but would make them a tad yellower in the future should I live long enough ) are my favorite colors in the Universe.

All the flowers on all the green planets in the Universe look best framed in these shades to me;...of course the dark greens of Summer are formidably powerful in my mind too.. I shall make sure to add these colors onto my painted pots...

You have been an inspiration in these thoughts, and love blending pots with nature so as to not distract from nature

Likely the 'greens' for me might be sponged around the bottoms and tops so as to look old or older? Heck! I painted my whole house to look old so the gardens would look framed! (I really did! :lol:)

I LOVE those spring greens, lime, chartreuse, kiwi! So lively and blend so nicely with most other colors. I used to take issue with green flowers, but in recent years have grown to love them. They're typically that springy shade that is no longer present in foliage once the blooms appear. I've ordered green Gladiolus bulbs and Zinnia seeds this year. I think of green as nature's neutral- that color that everything else looks great with.

Just playing with pics to get an idea how all these ideas will look together. Liking it so far!