Would you be interested in Mertensia virginica?

viola is a good ground cover with cute edible flowers that will grow in intense shade ust fine. probably some of the other stuff i have would do ok in shade, i have a lot of shade in the rainforest here. but i like violas for how easy they are to grow, and they fill in the spaces on the ground between the taller plants. can trade you some if you like.

Great tips folks! I've winter sown Astilbes. Even though I have many plants in the gardens from sowing them every year for the last 5 years, I still did some this year. They can be done anytime. Did Turtlehead too. Just got a couple of sprouts a few years back, but the plants are growing nicely and this year I should get more than a couple of blooms. Lobelia Cardinals was done this year and I have many little plants which will be going in the gardens soon. I'm going to try the tip on Monkshood (Aconitum). I have three varieties in the gardens and want more. This is a plant the deers won't even go near because it is so poisonous. Another thing you might consider when sowing these is that when the summer weather starts to show, I always move mine to part or dappled shade and if they haven't sprouted by the day I move them, many start sprouting thereafter. It's like placing them in the environment they are most comfy with.

Wow....thanks everyone! I guess DH was probably right? (Did I really just say that??) In the past I have planted a Mandevilla vine on the end of the arbor. It did look pretty, but the wait until mid-summer for flowers and for it to grow to any size was frustrating for me. But....DH likes how it looked and wants me to plant it again. This year I tried Heavenly Blue morning glories, they are blooming now, but again the long wait. I have not been really happy with the morning glories this year either. :-( Couldn't decide why. I had thought that the look I wanted was to cover the arbor with vines....but after reading your comments and looking back at pictures from other years, maybe you are right. Not a huge or heavy vine, but stay with a lighter vine? Oh, the indecision. We built the arbor ourselves, no plan, just ideas. The "windows" were something we had picked up the summer before we built the arbor, with no idea how we would use them. As we planned the arbor, DH mentioned that he thought he could incorporate them into the arbor, and so he did. They are cast iron and have love birds in the center. I do love the picture of the honeysuckle and if not on the arbor, I will find a different spot to plant one of those!