I was just in awe of the gorgeous display gardens there. After turning a corner, my eye lit on this area of Zinnias interplanted with Solidago and backed up by a beautiful Sumac (which I believe is a Cutleaf Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina 'Bailtiger' (Tiger Eyes)). While the Zinnias aren't native, the other two plants are. I loved the juxtaposition of what I consider wild plants with a piece of classical statuary. It didn't hurt that the color scheme is one of my favorites, chartreuse and magenta.And now, other photos of native plants from the garden yesterday. These are some of my favorite plants.
Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, which looks purple when closed and blue when open in the sun.
Hepatica nobilis var. obtusa, which looks purple when closed and blue when open in the sun.
I love the feel of the ferny foliage of Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria).
Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) look so odd before they open their umbrella-like foliage.
The foliage of Anemonella (Thalictrum thalictroides) emerges burgundy, but will gradually turn green.
It's hard to believe that these little shoots of Solomon's Seal (Polyganatum biflorum/commutatum) will soar to over four feet tall. Like the Anemonella foliage, the foliage of Geranium maculatum starts off burgundy and turns green, but unlike the Anemonella, the Geranium foliage turns bright red in autumn.
The freakiest plant in my garden, Caulophyllum thalictroides or Blue Cohosh, has just started blooming. This plant, and the others pictured here, make me smile. There's just something so uplifting about the sight of native plants emerging from the earth in spring and spreading their foliage like the wings of birds about to fly.
31 comments:
MMD, I love that photo, too...It is a great example of how natives can intermingle with exotics and do beautifully in a classic garden setting. Your other natives are delicious...ah, spring in a wildflower garden, it's a delight. gail
I'm very particular about garden art, but I love that statue with the zinnias and goldenrods! Your native plantings are lovely; and blue cohosh is indeed very freaky looking. What a fun oddity that is!
Hi MMD, that is a fabulous photo. Statuary really takes a garden to the next level. All your photos are wonderful, but your freaky Blue Cohosh got my attention immediately. I just saw that plant for sale this weekend and passed it by, now it has to come live here if only for the emerging weirdness!
Frances
I love native plants and agree may apple looks so cool all tucked up tight before blooming. I'm a little confused about what constitutes a native plant, though. To me it's something that was growing in an area before people were involved in its cultivation or care. Therefore, once we make a cultivar, even if it starts from a native plant, to me that cultivar is no longer a native. I guess ymwv!
I don't know if I've ever seen a photo of Blue Cohosh. Very striking indeed! You have a lot of spring ephemerals that I don't have. I'm jealous!
Your natives are awesome. I am just now learning about them all from the blogs, you and Gail and others have been helpful with this. The first picture is very nice. Looks like quite a carpet of goldenrod and sumac. I have both here and they are a bit too happy-the goldenrod anyhow. I've never seen a May Apple prior to it being opened-pretty neat!
You have such a great collection of woodland plants. I love them. Every week I am introduced to something new in your garden. thanks.
Maybe I should just move in next door to you and take photos of the natives.
I love how the Blue Cohosh emerges. It stopped me in my tracks the other day while in the woods. I'm so happy I can follow the growth for this one. (my first time seeing it sprout)
IMO - That freaky flower is a winner.
I like your assortment of flowers. I have started a book on gardening with wildlife in mind that I couldn't find to quote from. It gave more than one definition that different people have for native plants. The main message of the book is to strive for a good balance. The author says to enjoy native plants that do well in your area, along with the other plants you like.
I am such a collector, that I mix herbs, natives, non-natives, annuals, perennials, and biennials all in the same beds. I need to see if I have pictures of native plants handy.
Every time I see your hepatica, MMD, I think I fall in love with it just a little more. The first photo is stunning; I wish I had the artistic eye to think of such a combination. I don't have much garden art, just because I'm never quite sure where to put it. Maybe I need an art coach:)
You have some wonderful natives bursting through the soil in your garden MMD. I've been adding a few to own yard for the past few years now. Those Mayapples really crack me up with their folded up umbrella leaves. :)
Great photos, and in my mind, they clearly show how special the natives can be. One day, I'll take a bike trip across country and see the natives everywhere....
I love that photo, MMD. Great choice!
I really like the idea of those plants starting out burgundy and turning to green... such diversity for a plant to offer. Our native plants make such a great compliment to our gardens.
I can see why you chose the photo entry- the colors and texture are fabulous!
Meems @ Hoe and Shovel
I loved your comment about plants making you smile. That's one reason I grow several different plants. I thought maybe I was nuts for feeling that way!
I was wondering whether it might be prairie smoke--but I've only seen it in photos with the fluffy bloom open. I had thought it might be taller. It doesn't do well here, though it should. I don't know why. Thanks for the ID!
I, too, love the ephemerals, but I notice you don't have any Trillium photos on your blog. Do they not grow in your neck of the woods? And have you ever eaten Mayapple?
A delightful combination of plants and statuary in your first photo. I love the look of mayapples as they poke through the earth. The Anemonellas look beautiful. Their foliage is lovely. This is the second time I've come across blue cohosh today ~ Wiseacre posted a pic of his plant. Must try & locate one ~
I love natives, especially the delicate-looking woodland flowers. I've got a dog-tooth violet that is just about to bloom. I'm keeping my eye on it.
Gail - I am delighting in the garden now, as I'm sure so are you.
ROR - Blue Cohosh gets more graceful as the season progresses, but I do enjoy its freaky phase.
Frances - yes, you must get Blue Cohosh. It takes a surprising amount of dryness as long as it's in the shade.
Monica - technically, I consider the straight species of a plant a native, but the rules of the contest allowed for cultivars. It is odd that Prairie Smoke isn't happy in your garden. It is very happy here when not getting chomped.
Kathy - the spring ephemerals have a special place in my heart, so I've made sure I have lots of them, although I don't have all the natives that I could grow. I must do something about that.
Tina - thanks! I have to restrain my Goldenrod every year or it will completely colonize the garden.
MA - the key word is "collection." I need to work on the design part, although I enjoy visiting with each plant individually.
WA - Blue Cohosh is one of those plants that always surprises, it shoots up & blooms so quickly. I'm glad you got it as it was emerging.
Sue - I have a mix of native and exotics, but I'm careful not to plant anything exotic that can become invasive.
Rose - I wish I was so artistic too. But good art & pleasing plant combinations are like Justice Potter Stewart's definition of pornography for me - I know it when I see it.
PG - when I was a kid, Mayapples grew wild around our house. We didn't know what they were, so we called them "Umbrella Plants."
TM - that bike trip sounds like a great idea!
Thanks, Pam!
Meems - I started noticing last spring how many plants have red or burgundy spring foliage. There must be a reason for it, but I've yet to discover it. I merely enjoy it.
Judy Lowe - no way, you are not nuts! (Well, maybe a little bit plant-crazy...)
Ellen Zachos - I've had trouble with Trilliums. I have only 2 Trillium grandiflorums, but only 1 bloomed last year. This year, the loser one is up without a bud, but the one that bloomed last year is just starting to sprout, so there's hope yet.
Kate - Blue Cohosh is a wonderful plant. It is not ephemeral and has beautiful berries in the summer. It should be more widely planted.
Hi MMD, You have created a great collection in your city-yard!
We, in our yard, are fortunate to have quite a number of those native woodland plants in our woodland. I've moved trillium, dutchman's breeches, etc. into some of the gardens, though. And our yard is COVERED with Spring beauties right now. I'm going to check into this meme. It's one in which I could also participate. :-) Thanks!
Hi MMD,
You have some great stuff growing there and have given me many more ideas. I've always been curious about Mayapples ... we tried them from bare root one year and got nothing from them. Do yours actually fruit at some point? I've never seen a Mayapple up close and personal!
I love your native plants -- but I esp LOVE dutchman's breeches -- the cutest plant with the cutest name. I need to snag one!
Let the unfolding continue. Always a treat to find the unusual in Mr. MacGregor's Daughter's garden! Hepatica....I need some.
Gotta love the natives, and you have some excellent examples of woodland natives.
Had to laugh about the collection comments - I often think I'm more plant collector than gardener.
I found a wonderful nursery not to far from here that grows only natives and am looking forward to adding more of them here.
Jill-O - I love to watch the Erythronium open, almost 1 petal at a time.
Shady - how neat that you have Spring Beauties! I really need to plant some here.
IVG - I ought to send you some Mayapple plants - every year I dig out so many because they spread like crazy once they're happy. My Mayapples do have fruit & I've got a photo of one somewhere. I'll post it hopefully soon.
Rosemarie - for a while my Dutchman's Breeches were struggling, but finally I was able to divide them last year. It's a very neat plant.
Layanee - the unusual; I guess gardens do reflect the gardener. ;^)
Garden Girl - that's good news. The closest nursery like that to me is The Natural Garden in St. Charles, which isn't all that close.
I love your mix of native and exotic with the statuary. It has a great mood.
I think native plants are a great mix in the landscape! It's easier when I walk people through my garden and explain to them how they could use a plant that will be successful to grow in their yard too. The photos are beautiful btw!
There is something very interesting and almost otherworldly about that Blue Cohosh... I'm really liking it! No wonder it makes you smile.
Well the contest is done and results posted over at GGW early next week. Thanks for your entry and I am giving each photo bit of constructive criticism.
Loved the statue as the focal point but it dominates the photo rather than the native plant and the foreground zinnia is a distraction to my eye.
I love the first photo. The lighting on the statue and the way it highlights the tones of the sumac is superb. The bursts of Zinnia colour add much to create a lovely composition.
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