There is a space in the far corner of the property that used to be the shadiest spot in the garden.
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Shown above is Variegated Solomon’s Seal, Polygonatum odoratum ‘Variegatum’Then the very large shade giving tree, Ferngully, died and sun now comes streaming in.
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Shown above are Heuchera ‘Silver Scrolls’ and Hosta ‘Sun Power’A replacement tree was planted before the big maple was cut down for we could tell by the damaged trunk that it did not have long to live.
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Shown above is wild columbine, Aquilegia canadensisBut the woodland plants had already been planted in what we refer to as the wildflower corner.
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Shown above is lily of the valley, Convallaria majalisShrubs, tall perennials and seedling Dogwoods, Cornus florida have been added to provide as much shade as possible but the sun will not be denied.
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Shown above is emerging Christmas fern, Polystichum acrostichoides backed by blurry Primula verisLocal gardening experts were asked for advice as to what could be done to keep the woodland plants alive until the young trees grew and provided more shade. The answer in a word…water.
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Shown above are what was sold as English bluebells, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, but they are not that. More likely a cross with H. hispanica due to the upright flower stalk. True English bluebells have a nodding stalk and downward hanging flowers.Sprinklers were set up and run faithfully.
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Shown above are Virginia bluebells, Mertensia virginica overlaying Japanese maple ‘Peaches And Cream’, Acer palmatum ‘Peaches And Cream’The years trolled by, and each summer became drier until the last two years our area has been proclaimed to be in extreme drought, the worst level.
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Shown above, Epimedium (NOID)Extra watering as needed cannot be done in the face of such conditions.
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Shown above is they tiny emerging Polypodium virginianum with an Antennaria wildling to the leftBut some of the plants have bravely endured sun and drought, alive if not prospering.
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Shown above the unfolding Southern maidenhair fern, Adiantum capillus-venerisWaiting for the shade to grow with the trees.
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Shown above is a more advanced unfolding Adiantum capillus-venerisAnd the rains to return.
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Shown above is yellow wood poppy, Stylophorum diphyllumThis past moist winter and rainy spring has been a boon to the woodland wildflower corner. The plants are getting the required regular soaking for the time being. It is hoped their roots will run deep to sustain them through the warm months ahead. The canopy of leafed out young trees is spreading wider. Our new rainbarrel, a Christmas present from The Financier is full to the brim. Watering cans and plastic milk jugs are at the ready to provide extra water from the barrel to this special corner of the Fairegarden.
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Shown above is Fritillaria meleagris
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*This post is part of the Garden Bloggers Design Workshop sponsored by sweet Nan Ondra and the gang at Gardening Gone Wild. The topic for April is Water Wise Gardening.
Frances
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Just a note to let you all know that on Monday, April 20th there will be a special posting as we join with several other bloggers across the USA, all posting about the same topic. Stay tuned!
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About me
My name is Frances and I am a lifelong gardener, having lived in various parts of the USA over many years. I am now gardening in USDA Zone 7a east Tennessee. From 2000 to 2014 I was gardening on a slope in a small town in Tennessee. I have been blogging about my gardens since December of 2007. Thank you for visiting!
The slope in spring
The slope in fall
The slope in winter
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Recent Posts
Visit The Hop Ice Cream Cafe When In Asheville, NC
The Hop~
640 Merrimon Ave.
or The Hop West
721 Haywood Rd.
Asheville, North CarolinaOlder Posts Of Interest:
The story of the day a throng of cedar waxwings descended upon the garden, shown in the header image. (2009)
How to Cut Back the Too Tall Late Summer Bloomers
An awkward title that explains about making those very tall asters, mums and others shorter by cutting them down by half in May. Now is the time! (2011)
A book inspires the growing of lilies from seed. (2009)
How ten lily bulbs became hundreds. (2010)
Did You Really Think I Bought All These Plants?
A rant about the mistaken thoughts of non-gardeners. (2009)
Lost Secret in the Bloedel Reserve
There was something hidden in the forest and we were lucky enough to be able to see it. (2011)
Dreams turn into reality, in a way. The Green Man/Leaf Man faces live well in my garden now. (2011)
A yard without a lawn. (2010)
A history of all of the faire gardens and a couple of choice tidbits about me. (2009)
The Six Degrees Of Favorite Plants-Southern Living Blogathon
Very difficult to only pick your six favorite plants, some of us bent the rules a bit. (2009)
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Copyrighted Material
Good morning Frances, I really like the close up shots you do of the blooms. The spiral of the Maidenhair Fern (the first shot) is so unusual. I need to go back to our Learning Garden with fresh batteries in my camera. Our Virginia Bluebells are great now, but it is funny– our Lily of the Valley is just showing the buds now, yours is already opening. Funny how different plants are ahead and some are behind in another location.
Miss Frances each of these are beautiful but the Southern maidenhair fern picture is fabulous love, love, love it…
hugs, Cherry
Frances .. you have such a flare for cloe up pictures girl ! I have variegated Solomon’s Seal too .. and I can’t wait to see it .. hopefully it has grown larger and taken up more room for itself .. I had Miss Sharples Maiden Hair .. but I seemed to have misplaced it while relocating it .. there should be a special guide (like a metal detector .. but program the plant you are searching for in it) to find these replanted babies ? LOL
I am curious as to which trees you have planted to replace your lost shade. We have two Peaches and Cream for sale at work, and they are spectacular right now (with an equally spectacular price).
Hi Frances! Gorgeous photos as always! I have many of these in my own shady wildflower garden and shady creekside garden, and I’ll admit, that variegated Solomon’s seal is a true fave. But you’re quite right, many of these plants can take more sun than people think—a huge surprise to me when I first started planting them!
Wow, they are all so pretty! I do hope their runs grow deep and happy and sustain them, but like all optimistic gardeners-I hope you don’t have to do supplemental watering-may the drought end! Here and now!
Frances:
I used to try and decided which part of the garden I would like to get lost in….. now I have my answer. Absolutely divine!
Absolutely beautiful plants, Frances. It seems almost catastrophic when a tree in a garden dies. 2 years ago a big cashew tree in my garden died while we were away. The entire environment in that area has drastically changed and I’m still struggling to plant another one in the same spot.
That Fritillaria has to be one of the most dramatic looking plants ever!
Aha! I too have wood poppies! I just didn’t know what they were. Now I’m eager to go find out who else lurks in my woods. I’m sure there’s a wildflower book around here somewhere.
Such a beautiful spring in your garden! I’ve not tried the non-scripta bluebells, so I don’t know the difference between those and the hispanica that I grow (both are available at Van Engelen where I buy my bulbs.
We had frost last night! We covered up a lot, but I had to go out and hose down the roses and the outer gardens before the sun hit the foliage this morning.
Cameron
Hi Frances, I really suffered last couple days not being able to see your garden photos..what a treat they always are! That Christmas fern stretching for the sun..awesome! Your GBBD post, I couldn’t pick a favorite…love the dark purple iris, the toolbox planter, the pink and orange tulips..and I glimpsed the red tree peony bloom! Thank you, thank you!
Hi Frances
I love the look of the unfurling fern croziers.
I’ve an area shaded by a lime tree which is filled with ferns.
I think woodland areas are the most interesting at this time of the year.
As a kid, I remember English bluebells carpeting the woods. Back in the UK they have been a bit under attack from the Spanish variety which is more vigorous.
Beautiful photography as ever. Into the sylvan…
Rob
Good Morning Frances, The woodland garden is lovely and you’re growing some of my favorite flowering plants. It was autumn when I visited so this garden wasn’t even on my radar…but I would love to see it in full bloom. We have had a wet winter and spring…maybe this summer won’t be as bad as it has been! We can dream and hope can’t we! Have a good weekend. I will of course be reading the special posting on Monday! gail
We have been lucky with the rain this spring! It seems we haven’t had a row of sunny days in a while. Good for the plants, not so much for the gardener who wants to get outside and work! Beautiful pictures.
Hi Frances, I think woodland flowers can handle a little more sun than we think; most come up before the trees are leafed out. Even some heuchera can handle the hot afternoon sun in my location. I love the Christmas fern, it looks so prehistoric. I also love the fritillaria–I’m starting to suspect that either a) the groundhog ate it or b) the bulbs that were supposed to be fritillaria are instead chionodoxa as I don’t have it blooming.
Frances, what a gorgeous post! Just what I need for my Friday! Is the fritillaria easy to grow? I would like to try that. It is very pretty and unique.
Frances, your posting is gorgeous as always, but I am frantic. what did I miss? What are we all blogging about on april 20? It isn’t quite Earth Day, but . . . Help!
You have a botanical wonderland going there, Frances.
Donna
That last one looks like it’s made of gingham or plaid! How interesting. My heuchera is blooming like yours. I didn’t even know they bloomed till this one. You do have a piece of paradise there, Frances. But then you know that!
Brenda
The same thing happened to my Mayapples, as their shade tree had to be cut down. It’s going to be a long time before the little Oak is big enough to cast shade on them. But like your tough little wildflowers, it’s hanging in there.
I really like Epimedium NOID. Nice shot of Stylophorum diphyllum.
All of your plants look so pretty! They sure look happy with the amount of water they are getting.
We had a vine maple fall over years ago, everything under it was specifically planted there for the nice shade it received. I ended up moving quite a few since I couldn’t keep up on the watering. Now we have a Japanese maple that is slowly beginning to give the shade back to that area.
Hi there Frances, I just adore your sunny woodland. Great to hear you’ve a water butt ready and full too! Sorry I haven’t been by in a while 🙂
Now… what a show you had for Bloom Day too. I loved seeing the bigger shots of your garden too. Most of my tulips are at bud level at the moment but I am thrilled to say that my late planted ‘Ice Follies’ daffs have appeared through the gravel now. Yours looked great so I can’t wait to see mine in flower 😀
Have a wonderful weekend 😀
What ever survives the drought will grow so well in the future. I hope the drought breaks soon. Lovely shots.
All beautiful! I love English Bluebells and have them in my yard, they are almost ready to open up. I really need to divide them as they are in a narrow bed between cement and my garage- very over crowded- a lot of them are right around my clematis, and I’ve heard clematis don’t like their roots messed with, so I haven’t done it yet :). I love the color- just a perfect spring color, if you ask me 🙂
I must say again, I LOVE YOUR PHOTOS. And it´s nice to find many same flovers here and my ouwn garden.
Frances, the photo of the unfolding maidenhair fern is fantastic! Your pictures are always wonderful, but the detail on this one is really striking. I’m glad you had a lot of moisture this past winter and early spring. Weather seems to go in cycles, so perhaps your drought is over, and the woodland garden will really flourish this year.
Yes ! Solomon’s Seal has to be one of me faves in the shady garden. Mine have yet to appear but I long for them. Unfortunately the Red Japanese Lily Beetle has taken a liking for it after decimating the lilies so I’m out at dawn and sunset with pail of soapy water picking those nasty critters off. Loved your photos Frances, soon my landscape will be full of life as yours 🙂
It’s good to see most things are tolerating the lack of shade. I lost a tree this year and my shade garden is going to be in full sun now. AT least I don’t have to worry about adding water with my own well.
Have you thought of using drip irrigation or soaker hoses?
I’m glad our wet spring is reviving your native plants & wildflowers. It is hard to lose a large shade tree, the poor plants really go into a state of shock. We lost a large maple in 2004 & my mostly shady backyard went to part sun conditions. It was a challenge to say the least. The rainbarrel is a great way to water wisely during dry spells. I have 6 in my yard. I bought 2 years ago & then hubby made me 4 more a couple of years ago. They really help!
WOW, What fantastic flowers you have blooming. It sure looks like paradise. Yes, hopefully it will rain enough this summer to sustain your lovely garden. What beauty beholds your eyes each morning when you arise.
It was beautiful across Tn. week before when I traveled. I was so lucky to see it.
That Fritillaria meleagris is pretty cool.
Delightful, Frances … I have many of the same stars waiting to shine in my garden. Isn’t spring grand!
Beautiful shots Frances. My favorite is the unfolding Maidenhair Fern.
Hi Frances. Wonderful post, as usual for you. It looks like your woodland plants are doing pretty well to me despite the drought you’ve been experiencing. You have many beauties. I think the English bluebells are one of my favorites. I was wishing for a rain barrel the past couple days for I know it would have been full. I’ll be back tomorrow to see what you’re up to on the 20th!!! Happy Sunday.
I understand about losing the shade tree. That happened to me too at our last house and in the middle of the drought. It is miraculous how these plants can survive. Looks like you have a good many that came through–yippee.
what beauties all your flowers are. i just love seeing how you put things together. glad some of the seedlings have decided to make it despite our last dry years.
The fritillaria looks great. The native ones are blooming in the hills around here, not nearly as showy. It’s tough when the shade goes away, but interesting to see which plants survive.
Hello Frances, This is Susan from Ontario, yes Shari’s friend. I am in awe! Your garden is unbelievable, absolutely beautiful. I wish we had your climate and you here to help us.
I remember (sort of) what it was like when you first started….how it has evolved.
Trying to pick 6 favourites would be impossible. Today I bought a Climbing Lily and a Helleborus….wish me luck.
The frit I have is a larger varity….and smells like skunk. Looking forward to hearing from you….S.
Ah, Frances, absolute eye candy, yet with an important message, too. We can follow all the “rules,” choosing plants that are suited to our site, but who ever expects that their site could change so drastically? (Well, those of us who have no trees are seldom surprised by suddenly having shade, unless a high-rise goes in next door. But still, it could happen….) Thanks for sharing this angle for this month’s GGW Design Workshop, and for being such a dependable participant!
Wow, stunning pics! And I love how you turned the sad death of Ferngully into the fresh opportunities it does represent…life springs anew.