naturalistic planting Archives - Lasting Landscapes by Carol

Taking Notice

April 28, 2021

by Carol Verhake with 4 Comments naturalistic planting spring blooms Spring Flowering woodland garden woodland trail

I love hiking in the woods. I find that moving forward step by step on a natural path while inhaling fresh air is therapeutic on many levels. I often wonder how many people really notice what is around them when they are walking in the woods. Have you taken note of the plants along your hiking path? Our natural environments give us great opportunities to observe some of our native plants as well as some of the invasive species that are infiltrating our forests.

During a recent hike in the woods near my home I found a number of wonderful native plants worthy of adding to any shade garden. Most of these plants are considered spring ephemerals. They grace us with their presence in early spring and disappear by early summer.

Dicentra cucullaria (Dutchman’s Breeches) provides a delicate texture to the early spring garden with finely dissected foliage. The flowers resemble little pantaloons, which gives this plant its common name.

dicentra cucullaria foliage — Although this plant wasn’t blooming, the texture alone made it garden worthy.

Erythronium Americanum (Dogtooth violet or Trout Lily) has spotted leaves that resemble a trout’s markings. The graceful, nodding yellow flower adds contrast to the striking leaves.

yellow dogtooth violet flower with log — The gorgeous foliage and blooms of the trout lily

Podophyllum peltatum (Mayapple) has umbrella shaped leaves. While many are solid green, some display impressive color and variegation.

mayapple foliage in green — The umbrella shaped leaves of the Mayapple plant

variegated mayapple leaf with moss covered log — This particular Mayapple had attractive variegation

Allium tricoccum (Ramps) provide two seasons of interest and food for the table. Sometimes called wild leeks or wild garlic, they can be harvested for tasty meals. I prefer to leave them in the ground so I can enjoy the adorable Allium like flowers that emerge in the summer after the foliage has disappeared. Polemonium reptans (Jacobs Ladder) grows to a 12-inch mound. In addition to the interesting leaf structure and delicate purple flowers, these plants happily seed around my garden.

ramp foliage emerging — The strappy foliage of Ramps combined well with the tiny leaves of Jacob’s Ladder

Symplocarpus foetidus (Skunk cabbage) loves moist conditions and can often be seen along streams or in low areas. The flowers are quite impressive in form and color. Don’t worry, the plants only smell like skunk if you bruise the leaves.

skunk cabbage emerging from wet soil — Skunk cabbage emerging from a boggy site

skunk cabbage with maroon flower — A maroon Skunk cabbage flower

Claytonia virginica (Spring Beauty) have narrow leaves and pretty white or pink flowers with dark pink veining. They naturalize easily and can be planted in lawns for an early season display of color.

pink spring beauty flower with red veining — The pink-veined flower of a sweet Spring Beauty

Despite many wonderful native plants (I have only featured some of what you might see), there are some invasive plants as well. If you see them on your property, it’s best to remove them. By doing so, you’ll help save the forests and make room for other, more desirable plants!

Rosa multiflora (Multiflora Rose) is considered a noxious weed in Pennsylvania. These plants rapidly expand by seed and by a process called layering where the arching branches touch the ground, root and expand into an impenetrable thicket.

multiflora rose foliage — The foliage of Multi-flora rose

Berberis thunbergia (Japanese barberry) is a non-native woody plant that became popular because of its color forms and deer resistance. Barberry has escaped into the wild and is now disrupting natural ecosystems. Plant breeders have developed sterile varieties that produce no seed. If you are going to plant a barberry, I suggest you seek out one of the newer, non-invasive options.

barberry growing in woodland — A barberry shrub growing on the woodland floor

Elaeagnus angustifolia (Russian olive) is tough and fast growing, quickly crowding out native vegetation. Originally planted for erosion control and valued for its deer resistance, this plant should be eradicated if found on your property.

russian olive leaves with silver backs — The silver-backed foliage of Russian Olive helps with identification of this invasive

Lesser celandine is one of the most aggressive weeds I have seen in recent years. Favoring moist soil, it colonizes quickly and produces inordinate amounts of seed. To make matters worse it also spreads by bulblets and tuberous roots. Many think the yellow flowers are pretty, but trust me, it’s best to eradicate this pest as quickly as you can before it controls your landscape.

lesser celandine yellow flower with green foliage — The noxious Lesser Celandine weed that seems to be taking over many natural areas and even residential lawns.

The next time you hike through the forest, take notice of what’s around you. Cherish the wonderful native plants you see and learn how to spot invasive species Being good stewards of your own property is good for the soul, just like a walk in the woods.

Hail to the Nurses

March 20, 2020

by Carol Verhake with 14 Comments naturalistic planting nature inspired

As the Coronavirus pandemic corrals us into social distancing and self-quarantine, I find myself more and more grateful to the nurses, doctors and front-line healthcare providers who are risking their lives and working tireless hours to care for affected patients.

When I turn to nature and gardening for much needed therapy during this stressful time, I recognize I am also grateful to nurse logs, often described as the healers of the forest. I recently learned about nurse logs from my friend Inta Krombolz, who is a sculptor, designer and gardener extraordinaire. Inta designed a nurse log exhibit for a garden club symposium in North Carolina which captured my attention.

Nurse logs are basically fallen trees which through their death provide a healthy and secure habitat for seedlings to grow and flourish. Starting life as a seedling is harder than you might think, given that many of these tiny plants can’t find enough light or nutrients to grow on the dark floor of a forest. Given the security of a nurse log though, they not only survive but thrive.

Fallen trees are a perfect habitat for insects and small mammals. Insects burrow holes into the wood, which are then filled with water as it rains. Like sponges the decaying logs retain the moisture needed to support life. Fungi are attracted to the moisture and the magical process of decomposition occurs. More nutrients result to enhance seedling growth. Small mammals help out when they leave food remnants and excrement behind to further enrich the soil.

As modern gardeners, we are often overzealous in cleaning up our landscapes. We pick up sticks, remove dead wood, and strive to keep things spic and span. I encourage you to find creative ways to resist the urge to eliminate the dead wood and instead utilize it to create a healing space. In my garden I have lined pathways with fallen logs, left stumps to rot and cut dead trees 20 feet off the ground so they can decay in place. Other gardeners use old logs or stumps as planters for an attractive accent. In whatever way you can, I challenge you to incorporate some nurse logs in your landscape as protectors of your garden and of life.

A stump planted with annuals and perennials as a decorative accent in the garden — A stump planted with annuals and perennials

Cutting a new garden instead of the lawn

November 25, 2019

by Carol Verhake with 2 Comments all season interest garden design landscape design late summer plants Native Plants naturalistic planting

In the April 2019 issue of Fine Gardening Magazine, Editor Steve Aitken shared his thoughts on the significant moments in time that shape our evolution as gardeners. I had to chuckle at his comment that a true gardener would explain to a non-gardener that “The lawn is just the place you stand when looking at your plants.”

As a passionate plant person, I am often tempted by plants at the nursery. I’ll see a new perennial, tree or shrub and think to myself, “I have to have one of those.” This addiction of sorts explains why I continue to remove more lawn and add more gardens. Some of my friends think I’m crazed to add more beds to maintain in my 1.3 acre garden, but I find joy in the new plantings and feel the reward of the continually changing landscape is worth the effort.

To that end, this year I added a bed over 100 feet long which parallels a wall at the front of my property. On a slope, this new area has sections in shade, part shade and full sun and is well drained. The best part about developing this space into a garden is that I no longer have to mow on a hill, which was becoming harder and more dangerous the older I got. Sounds like a good reason to remove tons of sod, don’t you think?

Newly installed garden bed on a slope — My newly installed garden bed with many of the new plants in place.

I planted some favorites like Helleborus HONEYMOON® ‘New York Night’, Deutzia ‘Nikko’, Amsonia hubrichtii and Lonicera pileata ‘Moss Green’. I also added some new plants including Penstemon ‘Black Beard’, Lespedeza thunbergii ‘Gibraltar’ and Diervilla ‘Cool Splash’. I incorporated Pycnanthemum muticum, Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ and Aster ‘October Skies’ to attract pollinators and Molinia ‘Skyracer’ as a ‘see through’ plant. Some wonderful nursery friends gave me unique specimens including Indigofera kirilowii and Hypericum x Blue Velvet™ and I’m saving space for a Cercis ‘Flame Thrower®’ which I am hoping will be available in 2020. Is that enough Latin for you? Are your eyes glazing over yet? How about if I stop my plant talk and share some photos of these beauties so you can see why I am so enthralled!

Agastache Blue Fortune — Agastache ‘Blue Fortune’ blooms from mid-summer into fall and attracts many pollinators

Indigofera kirilowii (Chinese Indigo) has Wisteria-like pink flowers in the summer and showy yellow leaves in the fall.

Diervilla Cool Splash adds nice contrast to the border.

Molinia Skyracer — Eventually the tall plumes of Molinia ‘Skyracer’ will steal the show when backlit by the sun.

Mountain Mint — I’m very excited about Pycnanthemum muticum and its ability to attract pollinators.

While the new bed is immature, I look forward to seeing the plants grow in the years to come. I promise to share my triumphs and my trials. After all, that’s what gardening is all about. We collaborate with Mother Nature and make adjustments as needed to achieve the desired aesthetic. Now like a true gardener, I will prepare the garden for winter and patiently wait for spring!

A Perennial Favorite

October 28, 2019

by Carol Verhake with 8 Comments America's Garden Capital naturalistic planting Philadelphia Gardens Public Gardens Uncategorized

Each year I look forward to the Perennial Plant Conference in October, an amazing full day event including lectures given by horticulturalists from around the world. This year’s conference welcomed speakers from Japan, the Netherlands, the US, and Britain.

Started over 35 years ago, the conference continued its educational focus by gathering experts in the field to share knowledge and experiences. The sold out conference attracted 600 attendees and was held on the grounds of Swarthmore College which is advertised as “the most beautiful campus in America.” I can attest to the beauty of the campus. As with the other attendees, I was able to tour the campus before and after the conference. I even ate lunch in the gorgeous amphitheater where students celebrate graduation rain or shine.

Lasting Landscapes by Carol Perennial Plant Conference — This is what the crowd looks like during a break. I can see the coffee urn but it seems to be a mile away!

The conference was co-sponsored by Chanticleer, Longwood Gardens, The Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College. That’s some serious backing, which is probably why the speakers are well regarded and the attendance so impressive.

This year’s program included presentations on naturalistic plantings such as Midori Shintani’s discussion about the Millennium Forest and her team’s strategy to merge the cultivated gardens into the natural expanse beyond. Midori explained how her team used random software to position plants in an organic way.

Jacqueline Van Der Kloet, an internationally acclaimed garden designer from Holland, shared her tips for a cohesive design including the need to consider a winter framework of trees and hedges, a planned sequence of flowering for maximum impact, use of repetition for a naturalistic effect, and a recommendation to tie plant colors to the buildings in the background. Of course Jacqueline also suggested lots of bulbs which was no surprise given her Dutch background.

Ivin Etienne, Horticulture Display Coordinator for The Garden at Newfields in Indiana, explained that plants have to perform in a public display. There is no tolerance for a part of the garden that isn’t working when you have visitors every day. He highlighted a number of tried and true plants used at Newfields including Hellebores, Epimediums, Baptisia, Iris, Hosta, and Echinacea.

Panayoti Kelaidis is associated with the Denver Botanic Gardens. His presentation focused on rock garden plants that thrive in Colorado’s alpine environment and can also be used in other parts of the country if given the right conditions.

Lee Buttala, an author and television producer, stressed the need to let plants go to seed in order to allow new varieties to be born and to create more balanced ecosystems.

Finally, British garden designer, James Alexander-Sinclair, shared some of his work and explained his design principles such as using angles to make a space look bigger, hiding parts of the garden to reveal it slowly, and doing more planting close to the house. I particularly liked his comment that gardens are only as good as those who look after them. He said what the world needs is more gardeners. I am glad I am one of them at that I have the opportunity to tend gardens every day and attend wonderful educational events like the Perennial Plant Conference.

If you have a passion for perennials or just love plants, I encourage you to attend next year. Be sure to register early though as the 2020 program will likely sell out quickly.

Dare to Be Wild

May 26, 2019

by Carol Verhake with 4 Comments garden garden design Gardening Quotes Hardy Plant Society landscape design naturalistic planting nature inspired Piet Oudolf

I love the spring for so many reasons. For the magic of the garden exploding in color and form, for the birds nesting and tending to their young, and especially for the warmth of the sun after a long, cold winter.

But there are a few things about spring that bother me besides spring cleaning and tax season. I trust you won’t be offended when I share my opinions on the wildness of things. If you are one who trims shrubs into balls or lollipops or perfect Versailles-like hedges – I applaud you for your attempts to control the landscape. For me, perhaps because I have limited time to work in my own garden in the spring or because I’m moved by the naturalistic plantings of Piet Oudolf and others, I feel the need to let the wildness happen.

I love seeing the wrangled branches of my forsythia reach out to greet me as I drive up my driveway. I much prefer it this way as opposed to some unnatural shape that looks out of place.

I adore the Columbine which have happily seeded themselves around and are showing up in new forms and colors each year.

I congratulate one of the foxgloves, a treasured gift from my parents’ garden, for planting itself alongside my water feature.

Please don’t think I have relinquished all control of my garden. I still attempt to keep the weeds at bay, without as much success as I would like. I move plants that are being crowded out by others and water new plants as they settle in to a new spot in the garden. I assist Mother Nature as best I can. We collaborate.

I think my fellow Hardy Plant Society member, Syd Carpenter, said it best when quoted in a Pennsylvania Horticultural Society magazine from the winter of 2017. “As a gardener you are a collaborator, an enabler with nature, the sun, the earth. The notion of control is laughable. Gardening is a question of cooperation, acceptance, and submission – you bow to the process. Sometimes you are disappointed; sometimes you are rewarded. And you hope that over time the rewards outnumber the disappointments.”

So the next time you are putting your spring to-do list together, think about leaving off some tasks like hedge trimming or the weeding out of seedlings. Let them be and instead focus on cleaning those windows so you can enjoy the view that the natural and wild landscape offers! And when you have finished cleaning your windows, please come to my house to help me out with mine!