Today I am joining in with Gail's Wildflower Wednesday posts, featuring especially some that like to make carpets that bloom. Native plants occur in pockets of my 2 acre garden, especially in the southern woods, where sheets of Hydrophyllum capitatum come up in spring after becoming ephemeral the previous dry season-
The little ball-shaped flowers are just beginning to form-
I've seen a similar appearing more ornamental purple-flowered eastern USA native, Phacelia tanacetifolia, that looks interesting, as well as Phacelia bipinnatifida on Gail's blog that is quite pretty.
Another Borage family native perennial that grows by itself in sun is Phacelia hastata. It can get quite large and furnishes food for the native bees in the summer with its very long bloom season-
Another ephemeral plant that carpets the woods is Circaea alpina, Enchanter's Nightshade, with smaller bright green smooth leaves and eventually tiny flowers, from the Onagraceae family. It is separate here from the Hydrophyllum in the upper right. I was amused once at the fair to see this in the weed display labeled as "garlic mustard". Perhaps it seemed invasive.;-). Minute white flower will show up soon-
False Solomon's Seal is starting to bloom, the deer will nibble it so I have to protect it. The ones growing here have an exquisite fragrance I can't get enough of-
The native Mahonia (now Berberis) nervosa, is blooming and will have edible berries, it slowly forms colonies of plants, either alone or mixed with Salal, which I enjoy, especially in the few beds without weed competition-
Spring Beauty, Claytonia sibirica, can carpet some areas with it tiny candy-like flowers and edible bulbs-
The related Miner's lettuce, Claytonia perfoliata, is one of the most recognized of the wild edibles, eaten by miners to prevent scurvy-
A miniature vining plant with cute little incised leaves also makes an appearance, Nemophila parviflora also in the Borage family-
I once read an article about a study where a residential lawn that had been grass for 40 or 60 years was killed then watered and weeded to see what wildflowers would appear, and grew some amazing plants from dormant seeds. What native plants grow for you without intervention? Hannah
The little ball-shaped flowers are just beginning to form-
I've seen a similar appearing more ornamental purple-flowered eastern USA native, Phacelia tanacetifolia, that looks interesting, as well as Phacelia bipinnatifida on Gail's blog that is quite pretty.
Another Borage family native perennial that grows by itself in sun is Phacelia hastata. It can get quite large and furnishes food for the native bees in the summer with its very long bloom season-
Another ephemeral plant that carpets the woods is Circaea alpina, Enchanter's Nightshade, with smaller bright green smooth leaves and eventually tiny flowers, from the Onagraceae family. It is separate here from the Hydrophyllum in the upper right. I was amused once at the fair to see this in the weed display labeled as "garlic mustard". Perhaps it seemed invasive.;-). Minute white flower will show up soon-
False Solomon's Seal is starting to bloom, the deer will nibble it so I have to protect it. The ones growing here have an exquisite fragrance I can't get enough of-
The native Mahonia (now Berberis) nervosa, is blooming and will have edible berries, it slowly forms colonies of plants, either alone or mixed with Salal, which I enjoy, especially in the few beds without weed competition-
The related Miner's lettuce, Claytonia perfoliata, is one of the most recognized of the wild edibles, eaten by miners to prevent scurvy-
ReplyDeleteA pretty series of photos!
Have a great week-end!
Lea
Thanks, Lea, I really enjoy the natives since I don't have to work to make them grow.
DeleteHello, pretty series of wildflowers and images. Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Eileen, I wish I could get such good bird photos as you do.
DeleteGreat to see so many green plants - esp. the Mahonia - mine was completely whacked by cold spring. It will be blooming in a month, and won't look like a garden worthy plant for another two weeks after that. Interesting to learn that the Hydrophyllum capitatum is ephemeral for you - here it is persistent and green until the snow flies. Lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen the Mahonia affected here by cold, Barbara, it must get much colder up there. I'm so envious of your lovely clump of Mertensia, the slugs really go after it here.
DeleteOh, so many amazing wildflowers! We have many of these beauties here, too. It's amazing how those dormant seeds can come alive again after so much time. Great photos, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth, I enjoyed your Smooth Solomon's Seal photos. I grow it too but it is not native here. It is cute with the dangling bells.
DeleteI always like these green carpets.
ReplyDeleteA colour of lovely nature.
Thanks, Rainfield, I have a dream of the ground covered with lovely green carpets instead of weeds....
Deletethat's a magnificent Japanese maple in your header.
ReplyDeleteMy best carpet is Dymondia margaretae with little silver leaves and yellow daisy flowers. Makes a good dense cover and leaves are delightful.
Thanks, Diana, it was already pretty big when we moved in here 22+ years ago, so now it is even bigger. They are fantastic trees. I actually tried to grow Dymondia for a couple of years. I didn't think it could handle our winters so I actually dug up plants and kept them in a pot indoors over winter and planted them out again. Ones left outside didn't make it. But that was too much work to do every year, so bye bye, though lovely silvery foliage. But I pursue the silvery foliage with other plants.
Delete