Shady gardens

Throwing shade, the mysterious charms of the shady garden (first published in House & Garden magazine)

A Kensington garden designed by Todd Longstaffe-Gowan, photograph: Ngoc Minh Ngo

Shade gardens get a bad rep, playing second fiddle to showy sunny spots, deemed the less desirable real estate to the prized south-facing garden. But I think unfairly so – there’s a lot to be said for the mysterious charms of an atmospheric shade garden.

Shady gardens have hi…