Shade Blue Been at www.japanese-home-gardens.com

The hostas (Hosta spp.) are probably one of the most popular plants of today. Their willingness to thrive in the shade blue been, coupled with the variety of available leaf shapes and colors, plus the benefit of blossoms, has catapulted hostas to the top of every gardener's want list. The blue-leaved types ('Blue Angel' and 'Blue Moon', for example) will do well in medium shade blue been, but will even live in full shade blue been. The greens ('Green Fountain' and 'Green Wedge') adapt from medium shade blue been to full sun, and the variegated types ('Resonance' and Trances Williams') prefer shade blue been. Space plants 12 to 24 inches apart, depending on their ultimate size and, if you don't wish to disturb them for years, just let them be. They will grow happily for decades.

In spring the foamflowers bloom in that shade blue been; ground ivy (Gle-coma hederacea) bears small blue-purple flowers and violets (Viola spp.) of every color from deepest purple to lightest blue, yellow, and the garden's southern edge, with a 30-foot spread and branches starting 10 feet up the trunk, giving light shade blue been; the medium shade blue been resulting from Japanese maples growing within the spread of the pine; and the full shade blue been found beneath a weeping birch that in turn stands beneath a white ash with a 16-foot diameter.

Soft blue is an easy-to-live-with shade blue been that gives this plain and simple kitchen heaps of style. A slightly paler blue than the units has been painted on the walls to create a little depth and glass splashbacks have been fixed in place, allowing the colour to be seen while adding a little sparkle. White, chrome and plum accessories lift the look and a wooden worktop adds warmth, which is important as some shade blue beens of blue can be cold.