Yep, good lesson. When hardiness says a plant can handle full sun, they're generally not thinking of our sunshine out here in the SW. It's a whole other ballgame.
One of our best planters was the one under our mulberry. Another one is under a screen (that will soon be a grapevine covered pergola). Yet another gets only mid-day sun, with no direct sunshine morning or evening.
Love the first image. Great shot. :)