This is a lovely fall-flowering bulb with delicate flowers, in shade of white or rosy-pink, 1 in. wide (2-3 cm), with reflexed, twisted petals marked with a magenta blotch at their mouth. The cheerful blooms, slightly honey-scented, generally last for several weeks. They rise elegantly above the decorative foliage which consists of broad, heart-shaped, mid green leaves adorned with pretty silver patterns, that usually remain attractive all winter.

Popping up in the fall garden when most plants have finished blooming, award-winning Cyclamen hederifolium is a perennial plant which creates a captivating sight when massed. Opening before or with the leaves, elegant nodding flowers, in shades of rich magenta to white, 1 in. across (2.5 cm), rise above the foliage in late summer to mid fall. Sometimes fragrant, they are borne on 4-6 in. stems (10-15 cm) and feature gracefully, upswept petals, darker around the mouth. Equally decorative is the variegated foliage of large, ivy-shaped leaves, in shades of green, gray, pewter or silver. Long-lasting, it creates an almost evergreen groundcover and adds color and beauty to the garden during the winter months and well into spring.

Aquilegia, commonly known as Columbine or Granny's Bonnet is an excellent garden perennial with attractive clouds of delicate, bell-shaped flowers and a wonderful lacy foliage that emerges early in the year. Blooming profusely for at least 4-6 weeks, from mid spring through summer (depending on varieties and regions), they provide a lovely and welcomed transition between the early spring bulbs and the peak garden season.

Appealing to most gardeners, Dicentra (Bleeding Heart) are rhizomatous or tuberous perennials with heart-shaped flowers dangling in arching panicles or racemes above attractively divided leaves. Shade tolerant, they bloom over a long season, extending from late spring to early fall, in cooler climates. In hotter climates, flowering will usually stop in the heat of the summer, but may start again when the weather cools in late summer or early fall. Beautiful in leaf as soon as they sprout, they quickly add their charming blooms and make elegant additions to the garden when combined with other shade-loving perennials.

There are 20 different Snowdrop species and several hundreds of hybrids. Yes, several hundreds (!). The craze known as Galanthophilia has swept through the ranks of gardening enthusiasts in the past few years. While all snowdrops look the same to the uninitiated - dainty, nodding white flowers, with a dab of green, held on a thin arching stalk at the end of a thicker stem - they reveal their differences when you take a closer look.

There are 17 Hellebore species. Most are native to the mountainous regions of Europe, especially the Balkan region of the former Yugoslavia, south along the eastern Adriatic to Greece and Turkey. Many of the species have been interbred, producing countless hybrid Hellebores in a rich array of colors and forms.

Ridiculously easy-to-grow and long-lived, Hostas (Plantain Lilies) are shade-loving perennials that are highly prized by gardeners for their elegance and attractive foliage. Native to eastern Asia, these low-maintenance foliage plants are fabulous for shady areas and combine beautifully with other shade perennials. The world of Hostas is incredibly rich in terms of size, color, texture, leave shape. There are thousands of Hosta cultivars available reflecting their immense popularity with gardeners, and new varieties are legion. Growing from 6 inches to 3 feet tall (15 - 90 cm), the attractive foliage is topped in early - midsummer with taller funnel-shaped or flared flowers, in shades of white, lavender or purple. Some flowers are even sweetly fragrant.