guys, I want to get some perennial flowers to plant by the front and back of our home, both areas get exactly half shade/half sun....any expert that can help me decide what would be best?

I am in Illinois.

I strongly suggest google for you. There are many beautiful perennial flowers that do good in part shade. Hosta, foxglove, bleeding hearts, columbine, peony, yarrow, balloon flowers, etc. The reason I suggest google is for finding out what works in your temperature zone, what you may want to avoid do to poison issues, etc. Pretty sure my hostas did fine in that area of the country (it has been many, many yrs) but I can't say for certain all the plants I had. ~Red

Azaleas. I love them and have 18 total around our property. They are fairly easy to care for. Mulch the base in the fall and make sure you strip the brown leaves off (I wear gardening gloves and just stroke the branches and the dry leaves come off ). In the spring and summer make sure the mulch is kept damp with a watering once a day, twice if it's really hot.

Of course I forgot Azaleas they don't like me and die but they are beautiful. ~Red

Are you looking for flowers or would flowering shrubs/plants work also? When do you want them to flower? Hostas for example... While most of them do flower I consider them as foliage plants primariy.

I know you said you want perrenial but I have to give a shout out to a wonderful annual that we don't see often. Torenia (wishbone flower) is a hard working annual that has performed well in my part sun to full shade areas. It is a prolific bloomer, no dead heading needed, comes in a variety of colors and a trailing variety suited for baskets and planters. Torenia is my favorite flower for shade but will take some sun.

Thanks guys...flowers

I just picked up one to see how it goes and the rest I'll do annuals this year. The one I got is a lilac color...something bell...can't think of the name. Very pretty