Finally A Bench

A bench has always been part of the master plan for the new shade garden.  As rocks, a stump and some plants were placed, the location for the bench became apparent.  With a friend well into her ninth decade coming for a visit, the time for a place to sit became do it now.  The bench is placed as is a bark mulch path leading to it.  After a few hours of work it is just wonderful to have a place to sit looking out across the garden.  We can watch the birds that nest in our boxes, the seemingly endless parade of good ole boys in their pickup trucks and an occasional huge piece of farm equipment.  There is a great deal of work yet to do.  The sunny area behind the bench needs to be cleared of weeds and planted with meadow plants.  The leaves need to be freed from their bags and chopped adding to the forest nature of the soil in the shade.

The Lady Slippers are planted just across the path to the bench.  We have been watching for the flowers to open but Ed was looking in the totally wrong place despite the not so subtle clue contained in the plant's name.  He kept checking the end of the swollen pouches for any sign of progress.  Then we discovered that the flower opening is on top and very close to the stem.  Fortunately he found the open flower in time to enjoy it.

These Jack In The Pulpits are finally truly open.  Each faces in a different direction so their message is available to all regardless of location.  With the lack of frost these flowers should set a large number of seeds.  More plants will likely appear here.

This Trillium has once again opened with a pink coloration rather than the usual white.  We have no idea why this color variation occurs.  A closely adjacent plant has bands of a similar pink coloration over a white background.  Perhaps there is something in this plot of soil that causes the unusual color.  Whatever the cause this blossom will be a solid dark pink as it matures.  We may consider moving it to the new shade garden and planting it near to the bench.