One of the qualities necessary if you are going to garden with Native plants is the ability to enjoy the plants when they are at their best and then accept the way they look as they fade. Spring ephemeral wild flowers are a fleeting phenomenon. There is the thrill when they first come up, proving that they have survived Winter. Then there is the pure pleasure of watching them bloom followed by the period of time when they fade away. Some completely disappear until next year. On the other hand some of the plants are just getting started. The Sumac trees that are the wood part of this woodland garden are only now leafing out to provide some leaf shade.
The view from our garden bench is very satisfying . Ed's garden vision is really taking shape. The plastic bags filled with leaves and the piles of woodland soil are a necessary part of the garden metamorphosis. Today Ed planted Woodland Phlox and some tall, pale lavender Monarda. The Monarda is planted right behind the bench. Hummingbird moths find the fragrant flowers irresistible and it is my hope they will visit the flowers while I am sitting there.
The yellow lady's slipper is perfect today. Ed took this incredible picture, but it is still more thrilling to see it in person!
I only saw a Rattlesnake Plantain once before and I am very pleased that this one looks so terrific. It may bloom later in the season and if it does I will be elated. In the meantime, I will enjoy the intricate beauty of the leaves. and patiently wait.
1 comment:
Congratulations--your woodland garden is really coming into its own. Since I don't technically "garden" our woodland, I just accept that whatever happens back there is what nature intended...although I do remove Garlic Mustard and other non-native, invasive plants. The woodland floor is pretty sparse in the summer when the trees are all leafed out, although the Wild Ginger, Ostrich Ferns, and Solomon's Seal stick around near the forest edges.
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