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| The Woodland Garden in the Summer |
One of my favorite gardens is the Woodland Garden. Woodland Gardens appeal to me because they are not formal, take less work to maintain and it is a garden designed to appear the way that nature would have made it. They are relaxing, slightly unkempt, and lush with plantings. Woodland Gardens are places where you just want to sit down, watch the birds and squirrels and enjoy the life around you.
If you have a wooded area in your landscape, consider designing a Woodland Garden. Start with an entrance to the garden, like an arbor or gate. Add a pathway to lead you into and around the garden. A path can be river rock, mulch, or just dirt.
This garden can be all native plantings or it can contain selected shade loving perennials, shrubs, trees and bulbs that you like. In my garden, I prefer a combination of natives and plants that I enjoy. I try to add plantings that add year round color in leaves, flowers and bark. I also add early blooming shrubs and bulbs to start this garden into bloom after a long cold winter.
Plant selection is important in the Woodland Garden. Plants need to be shade loving and able to survive in low light conditions. They also must be able to tolerate dry conditions that can occur in the summer and competition from the surrounding trees. Here are a few of my favorite plants in my garden.
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| Annabelle Hydrangea |
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| Assorted colors of Hosta |
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| Ghost Fern |
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| Japanese Painted Fern |
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| Forget- Me- Not |
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| Virginia Bluebell |
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| Assorted Foam Flowers |
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| Oakleaf Hydrangea with fall color |
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| Oakleaf Hydrangea with Ostrich Ferns |
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| Variegated Solomon's Seal and native Solomon's Seal |
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| Yellow Archangel (AGGRESSIVE) |
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| Assorted colors of Hellebore for spring color |
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| Wood Poppy |
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| Sweet Woodruff |
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| Marsh Marigold |
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| Prairie Trillium |
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| Grape Hyacinth |
A shrub that I like in my garden is Witch Hazel, which can come in shades of yellow or orange for spring color. I also like Dogwood and Red Bud trees for their spring color. Look for shrubs and trees that have blooms and variegated leaves for added color that can be placed along the outside edge of your Woodland Garden. Native plants that I like are Bloodroot, Mayapples, Jack in the Pulpit and Wild Ginger. Do your research on what plants are available in your area or that are native.
Next week, I plan to make a trip to the Indianapolis Home Show to visit their gardens. Check back for some new pictures of spring flowers. Those of us who live in cold climates are ready for Spring to arrive!
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Happy Gardening!
Debbie
