Woodlands Gardens Update: 01 MAY 10

The bed of Mayapples, Podophyllum peltatum, is in its full glory in the lowest end of the Woodland Garden. For the longest time, this corner of the yard went either neglected or unsupported -- which is to say, the things I did were soon forgotten and failed by and large to "take." Then about seven years ago, I transported 4 native Christmas Ferns, Polystichum acrostichoides, from the woods owned by a friend of mine in southern Maryland and with them came the following year a reluctant little patch of Mayapples. On their own, they've migrated away from the base of an Eastern White Pine, Pinus strobus, (that was a gift brought to me from friends who live in Kentucky) to their present lush and prolific bed surrounding this Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis.

And there's so much more happening here. Beneath the canopy of Mayapple parasols are the remnants of the early blooming Marsh Marigolds, Caltha palustris. Around the back of the Redbud are purple and white Wild Hyacinths, Camassia scilloides. Lining the edge of the brick patio are variegated Solomon's Seal, Polygonatum odoratum 'variegatum', which have yet to bloom.

And protruding from the sea of true green foliage are the fronds of no less that seven varieties of fern. I'm thrilled.

Here is a view of the Woodland Garden looking toward the Mayapple bed in the northwestern corner of the yard. More fern and the lush mounds of leaves from Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis, Celandine Poppies, Styrophorum diphyllum, and Corsican Hellebores, Helleborus argutifolius, among other things like Orange Day Lilies, Hemerocallis fulva, and various Hostas.