So, is it part shade?

How shady is shade?

It's nekkid because the house is a fixer-upper and I don't know what to plant out there.

Not to hijack this thread...
I only have shade under maple trees and other trees
but I can't dig underneath them. It's all roots.

What do other people do buildup the soil underneath the trees to plant flowers into?
Dig into the roots at risk of hurting the trees?

I do have shade near one side of the house but midsummer
the sun and heat would be 2-3pm and on and that can be hot even in the north.

Maybe I have to plant 12 feet away from the base of the trees?

I guess the other problem would be that to get the rain to water down below the trees too?

It's a bit confusing (being fairly new to gardening)