The Sunny Woodland-GBDW*

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!
F

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