Resembling long, feathery Ostrich plumes, Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern) is an elegant, upright to arching, deciduous fern with showy, finely dissected, fresh green sterile fronds. Emerging at the base of the plant in spring, they gracefully unfurl until they depreciate over summer and lose their leaflets later in the fall, as the plant goes dormant for the winter. They surround shorter, brownish fertile fronds which will persist into winter. Low maintenance, pest and disease free, Ostrich Fern is a great asset for the bog garden!

Robust and vigorous, Primula japonica, commonly known as Japanese Primrose, is a deciduous perennial with attractive whorls of flowers in shades of white, soft to deep pink, purple or red. They are spaced at intervals along upright stems and rise above basal rosettes of lettuce-like, bright green leaves. Native to Japan, this perennial thrives in damp, shady environments where it brings its brightly colored blossoms in late spring to early summer. Plant in groups or drifts with hostas, ferns and iris in damp open woodlands, next to streams and ponds.

Award-winning Ajuga reptans 'Catlin's Giant' (Carpet Bugle) is an evergreen perennial prized for its large, glossy purplish-bronze leaves, 6 in. long (15 cm), which quickly form a dense mat of attractive rosettes. Rising from the center of the rosettes are whorls of tiny blue-violet flowers arranged on spikes, 12 in. tall (30 cm), which create a striking display when in full bloom, from mid to late spring.

Among the most popular variegated hostas ever introduced, Plantain Lily 'Wide Brim' (Hosta) cheerfully brings some color to shady areas! It forms an attractive, dome-shaped mound of broadly heart-shaped, puckered dark green leaves with a blue cast, widely and irregularly margined buttery yellow. Opening from pale lavender-gray buds, violet-striped pale lavender funnel-shaped flowers appear in mid to late summer in a dense raceme. This hosta is very popular in flower arrangements thanks to its pleasing outline, rugosity and distinctive wide margin. Easy grower, Hosta 'Wide Brim' grows 16-24 in. tall (40-60 cm) and spreads 24-40 in. (60-100 cm). Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society

Native to eastern and central North America, Viola sororia (Common Blue Violet) is a stemless, low-growing perennial with glossy, heart-shaped leaves topped with attractive, large blue-violet flowers with conspicuous white throats. Each flower sits atop its own leafless stalk. In addition to the normal flowers, there are often flowers near the ground that fail to open, but their fruit produces vast quantities of seeds. Blooming in mid-spring and sometimes intermittently into late summer, this Violet is so pretty that it is the state flower of Illinois, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Wisconsin!Easily growing up to 6-10 in. tall (15-25 cm) and 12-18 in. across (30-45 cm), this Violet will freely self-seed and happily multiply in satisfactory growing conditions.

Native to eastern North America, Phlox divaricata (Woodland Phlox) is a semi-evergreen, spreading wildflower which creates mats of abundant, open clusters of slightly fragrant flowers in mid to late spring. Each scented, saucer-shaped flower features five, flat, notched, petal-like lobes in shades of lilac, rose or blue. Borne at the tip of hairy and sticky stems, they rise enthusiastically above the lance-shaped foliage. A creeping perennial, Phlox divaricata grows only 9-12 in. tall and wide (22-30 cm) and can form large colonies over time, creating a beautiful flower carpet.