Shade garden pictures browse a collection of shade garden photos from around the country to get design ideas for your own home. creating a shade garden see how a former eyesore was transformed into a wonderful shady retreat complete with clearings, meandering paths, a gurgling pond, seating areas and colorful woodland plants.. Shade gardens can be plenty cheerful, whether you use flowering plants or foliage plants.before discussing the plants with which you can populate your shady nook in style, however, let's learn what exactly constitutes a "shaded" area and, more specifically, an area "partially" shaded.. Hosta is the go-to shade plant. yes, deer love them, but if you can work around that, there is no better choice for variety in a shade garden. the creamy variegated leaved hostas are often used to brighten shade gardens, but the golden varieties can be even more effective. gold foliage glows in the slightest ray of sun..