Thursday, May 07, 2009

The woodland garden

I don't remember the name of this plant. It is very well behaved and has big green leaves. It is just at the back of the garden by the firethorn and holly trees. It has some lemon balm near it, that needs constant controlling (another invasive plant, but lovely fragrance).
As you walk along the chip path along the side of the garage the last plant before the driveway is the bleeding heart. This plant is becoming quite thick and lovely since I have been feeding it compost and more water. There are also a few other choice spring blooming plants along this little strip of woodland garden, in the shade and under the eaves of the garage. I now have the new big green compost bin by this end of the garage and we park the van right up by the green bin and the front of the garage in the side driveway. I might be the only one who gets to see this garden because of the close proximity of the van and bin.
This is the large trillium. I found it had two blossoms this year. The red one is the older one. They turn red as they age gracefully. Its nice to see my trilliums increasing. The fawn lillies are finished but, they too are growing into a nice patch with a few new ones popping up in other spots of the woodland garden, too.
This is the linaria or money plant. It self seeds and is an excellent plant with its silver seed heads all winter.
The Saskatoon berry trees are full of blooms this year. I must keep them watered and see if I get enough berries to make a pie this year. They are delicious fresh also.
As you walk along the old cement sidewalk it turns left at the end of the garage and goes long behind the garage with approximately 15 foot strip between my property and the neighbour's planted with woodland plants, a huge eucalyptus tree, an evergreen that turns a burnished brown in winter, some cedars for screening, a yew, a holly tree, a firethorn, Saskatoon berry trees, a few sumacs. On the side of the path nearest the garage there is a bed of sweet smelling evergreen ground cover (forget its name) with a special hydrangea, a large fern, a lily of the valley shrub, the compost bin, some daylilies, a multistemmed pin oak, and a rhododendron. At this point the old cement sidewalk is mossy and becomes the chip path. As you turn the corner around the garage you follow the chip path with tall cedars along one side and more woodland perennials. I have bluebell bulbs taking over... they are very invasive. I have found that if they are covered heavily with mulch they can be controlled somewhat. I have some talll german irises along this area also that will one day have to be moved. Many of the plants that no longer fit in their beds find their way into this woodland area. The honeysuckle and a little black bamboo are in the corner and will need attention. There are thistles (from birdseed fallout) and those awful perennial morning glories (very invasive) as well as black berries. I need more chips for the trail. It is still a fairly easy care area, with lots of good interest in the plants and trees in color throughout the seasons.

1 comment:

Barbara said...

Your photo's are lovely and very inspiring. Unfortunately I'm a late bloomer this year. So I am trying to plant seeds and establish some perennial plants for next summer.