Shade gardening can be a challenge to some gardeners but in my yard, sun gardening my puzzle. Because my yard is dominated with 75-year-old trees, a few sunny plots are hard to find. I had to become quite adept at landscaping with shade plants that grow easily in Indiana. I don't go in for exotics or unusual plants. I just like the tried-and-true varieties that can winter over and multiply in my yard.

I am a hosta lover, not a connoisseur. The plants are more often lush and range from chartreuse (yellow-green) to green to deep blue green. The leaves can be tiny or gigantic. They usually multiply and grow in a rosette or circular form. What I particularly like about hostas is that they are hardy and impenetrable to destruction. Other than my dogs and a few slugs, the leaves cover fairly large areas and discourage weeds.

I began with just a few varieties. (When a hosta comes to my yard it loses its botanical and common name!). In spite of my lack of identification, I enjoy sharing and receiving plants. They are almost impossible to kill and can be transplanted anytime of the year. My first ones were brought from our old house. We decided to border a stone fence that was almost a half-of-a-block long. It took us almost seven years to do this. We planted the first season, let the hostas multiply, dug and separated the next spring, and planted again. These border hostas are our showy color in August. I have painted my landscape with variegated ones, hostas with purple flowers, and ones with white flowers that are usually fragrant. What is wonderful about this plant is that you can move them, adjusting their height, bloom, color of leaves, and growing formation to design an elegant display in your yard.

There are a few other plants I have added to my shade garden. For Spring blooms: wild flowers, bleeding hearts, and spring bulbs. The daffodils and narcissus have enough light before the hosta leaves get too big and shade the ground. Lenten Roses or Hellaboras have been fantastic additions. Their dark, dark green leathery leaves are a wonderful contrast to the hostas. The Lenten Rose begins blooming in late January to mid-March (coinciding with Lent; thus, the name) and hold its white, greenish white, purple, or pink blooms into June. After several years, I also was surprised how they multiply and spread thus saving a frugal gardener the need to buy more. I have also encouraged Forget-Me-Nots to spread along with Dames Rockets, early blooming Money Plant, and ferns. A few daylilies a set in a sunny spot. All my plantings are low maintenance and easy growing.

Have a hosta party with neighbors and friends. Exchange varieties and enjoy new plants. I can't keep track of all my varieties, but I can remember who gave me the plants and the yards they left to become a resident of mine. Just one final thought: If you become a hosta fan, check out the Indianapolis Hosta Society, www.indianapolishostasociety.org. It offers education, sales, trips, and tours.