Jane McGary asked about tiny bulbs for troughs. I don't know whether tiny non-bulbous geophytes fit Jane's order, but anyone who must cope with part-day shade might like to try Streptopus streptopoides and Polygonatum graminifolium. S. streptopoides is 2" tall, with small white bells in July that are followed by red berries. It grows at the edge of mountain conifer forests in the arc of Beringia from eastern Asia across to Alaska and down western North America as far as Washington and Idaho. I see it described as up to 20 cm (8") tall, but the plants I have seen -- all in southwestern British Columbia -- are much shorter. P. graminifolium is from the Himalaya and 2-4" tall. Tiny, scented pink bells amid grassy leaves are followed by deeper pink fruits. It is native to sunny alpine meadows that are wet in summer, but does well with us in dappled shade. Paige Woodward paige@hillkeep.ca http://www.hillkeep.ca/