Constance

We live on two acres, part of was used for my greenhouses and retail shop. I had a lot of things planted, but just as the cobbler's children had no shoes, so I never had time to properly care for my assorted plantings, and only the strong survived.
We made a start on the perennial bed a couple of years ago, but this spring I hired yard man/designer to help me, and we're getting a tremendous amount of work done. He isn't licensed, but he knows plants and isn't afraid to pull weeds, so at $12 an hour, he's a real bargain.

I just wish you all could drop by some evening and give your advice and suggestions.

For instance...can I plant an azalea in sandy soil if we dig out a good-sized hole and mix peat moss into the soil? I would also give it a good acid fertilizer.

I also want to plant a couple hydrangeas there, along with hostas and creeping phlox. It's on the north side of my shop, and is mostly shady with a lot of indirect light, although the east and west ends, where I plan to put the azaleas, do get some sun.