GROUNDCOVER
When I first began to garden I could never figure out what was meant
by groundcover because no matter how much I planted it never
covered enough ground.
Now I am getting the hang of it… and feel so blessed with combinations and choices…that it could be the perfect subject for another book…
Oxalis + variegated ivy.
Now I am getting the hang of it… and feel so blessed with combinations and choices…that it could be the perfect subject for another book…
Oxalis + variegated ivy.
Another Oxalis , 'Iron Cross' , and maybe my favorite,
taking over the receding Anemone foliage
taking over the receding Anemone foliage
(ah, the joys of layered planting – and so easy
to do with these little bulbs).
to do with these little bulbs).
Hellebore, Autumn Fern (stupendous colors) and Japanese
Painted – the indispensable fern.
Painted – the indispensable fern.
Epimedium, Japanese Painted, Heuchera good old
‘Palace Purple’ and Hellebore.
‘Palace Purple’ and Hellebore.
Schizophragma 'Moonlight' is usually used as a vine,
but if it has no support, then it is the most divine groundcover...
like its more well-known climbing hydrangea cousin,
Hydrangea petiolaris.
So, if your garden lacks walls – letting them scramble on the
ground is a fantastic use for certain vines.
Here mixed with Persian Big-Leaf Ivy.
but if it has no support, then it is the most divine groundcover...
like its more well-known climbing hydrangea cousin,
Hydrangea petiolaris.
So, if your garden lacks walls – letting them scramble on the
ground is a fantastic use for certain vines.
Here mixed with Persian Big-Leaf Ivy.
Delicious shiny Asarum europaeum with Fern Leaf peony
foliage, Acanthus leaf and what would I do without my
masses of Sedum ‘Acre’.
foliage, Acanthus leaf and what would I do without my
masses of Sedum ‘Acre’.
Sedum ‘Acre’ with a tuft here and there of Black Mondo Grass
(courtesy of April Gornik – but mine never gets as tuftier as hers).
(courtesy of April Gornik – but mine never gets as tuftier as hers).
Asarum with Trillium and Arum italicum – one of the most
underused and greatest of all perennials.
underused and greatest of all perennials.
Japanese Painted fern – which looks gorgeous with everything – and
the sweet-smelling mound-forming ever-increasing,
oh what is it called??? begins with a G....
oh what is it called??? begins with a G....
Japanese Painted Fern and Saxifragia, though
I don't know which one.
I don't know which one.
Violets (this a less aggressive, more sophisticated one that I got from
Abby Jane Brody... and cherish) with an ever-travelling Disporum.
And the wonderful Sedum 'Angelina'
mixed with a little Sedum 'Blue Spruce',
which is unfortunately not nearly as willing
to cover my ground.
mixed with a little Sedum 'Blue Spruce',
which is unfortunately not nearly as willing
to cover my ground.
I could go on and on…and will do just that in the next issue of Dirtier…
and maybe in that book that is hovering in my subconscious…
and maybe in that book that is hovering in my subconscious…
