Recently, a friend’s 13-year old son was sitting with us on my back deck and noticed the heavy canopy of trees that provided a dense shade throughout my backyard. He wondered if I preferred so much shade or would rather have more sunlight? It was a good question! Shady backyards, courtyards, and terraces are soothing respites from the heat of the summer. On the other hand, for us gardeners, these low-sun spots create...