Once again, the following is basic information, primarily for the inexperienced or "new" gardener but may be helpful to anyone interested in purchasing the right plants for his/her "space", whether it's a large yard, small flower bed or container garden.  It's all about the light; when it arrives, when it leaves and how long it stays.  The sun has all the power over which plants you should choose, that is if you want your plants to thrive.

The following are some basic tips about which plants grow best in different types of sunlight and/or shade:
Full sun (at least six hours a day) - most lawns, vegetables and flowers as well as many shrubs and trees.
Light shade (four to six hours of sun) - certain vegetables and herbs (lettuce and mint), several flowers (impatiens and daylilies), some shrubs (hydrangeas and rhododendrons) and trees (dogwood).
Heavy shade (less than four hours of sun a day) - ferns, spring wildflowers and ivy are some of the best and hardiest plants requiring little sun.

First, observe your space for several days.  Record the sunlight hours and pay attention to the sun/shade ratio.  The next step is to go to a garden center where you can talk to experts about your space and ask for suggestions about which plants to purchase.  Don't buy plants just because you think they look beautiful in the garden center.  You want to take home plants that will look beautiful in your "space" and will last throughout the growing season or in the case of perennials or trees and shrubs, for many years to come.

Check back soon for Basics of Gardening - Part III - That "dirty" word called soil.