Our property borders on a small slough that sits all year round, and in the winter, it runs a stream through our yard. Our neighbour has no inclination to do anything with this part of her yard, so has given us permission to do what we like with it. So far, we have taken out a bunch of brush and some dead trees, with more to come. This is what the area looks like from our yard. Our property starts right where the stream comes toward you. The edge of the slough is the property line.
Closer, looking at the right side. Notice my gunnera is taking off!!!! YIPPEE!!
Closer, in the middle, right at the beginning of the stream.
The left side. Notice one lonely little skunk cabbage. NO idea where it came from. Just appeared this year.
The furthest left.
See all those rocks in the background. What do you think of adding them at the edge of the slough to make a finished edge??
This whole area is constantly wet, even in the summer. Therefore, a great place to grow a weeping willow.
Now for the questions:
Anyone have suggestions for the kind of plants I can put at the edge of the slough, of course thinking about the deer??
I am thinking of trying a brug right at the edge and see how it does. This area only gets morning sun, and looking at the pond, you are looking south. Our yard has very tall trees around it, and we are low, so our sun is gone pretty well by 4 in the afternoon.
Will water lilies grow here?? It is not too deep right at the edge, but goes a bit deeper further in.
What about cannas?? And if they are okay, do they need to come out in the winter??
Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
This is what happens in the winter sometimes!
Thanks brugcrazy. Any other suggestions for wet feet perennials??
There are some irises that like it wet. We have a yellow one that's actually called a swamp iris. I'm not sure how wet it would like it as we just have it growing in the garden.
I imagine you must have lots of frogs in the area. I bet you hear a great chorus out there on spring evenings. I would love it.
Sandy
Iris pseudacorus (yellow) and Iris versicolor (blue) will both grow in wet soil or in a few inches of water. There's also a rusty red swamp Iris, possibly Iris fulva?, that is native to the southern US and should be hardy in Zone 8. Iris sibirica will also grow at pond's edge.
A few more suggestions: Ligularia, Trollius, Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold), Ferns, Euphorbia palustris.
How about Lobelia cardinalis. Not sure whether the deer like it, though.
Sandy
Wow, thanks everyone. Iris sounds great. I actually have some yellow iris in my pond. A friend gave it to me a couple of years ago, and she said she just got it beside the road somewhere close to a lake. So it might be better served in the bog than in my pond!
June, I just bought 4 maidenhair ferns. Do you think one or two might be okay in the bog? I also have a sword fern in a pot that we dug up out of one area in the yard last year.
Sorry, I don't know much about ferns. I see them growing on the banks of streams and in damp places in the woods. If maidenhair fern and sword fern are hardy in BC, then I'd say they would be fine in your bog, planted above water level, where they can get continual moisture without being submerged.
Iris Fulva is Louisiana iris. I have some in a community garden on Agnes St. They have been doing well there apparently. They are planted in soil though, not in water. Japanese iris would do well there though dont let them freeze in the water. You'd be better off taking the pots out of water for the winter and trenching (pots and all) somewhere for the winter.
The yellow iris pseudacorus has floating seedpods so if your slough empties out into another body of water, not a good idea, unless you remove pods after bloom. . This iris is invasive in some parts of NA>
Marsh marigold. Perfect conditions, sounds like.
What about cimicifuga along the edge. Also any siberian iris you can find. They won't live if they are in water year round. Their preferred spot would be where they are in water with spring runoff and then drier conditions when the water subsides.
inanda
So........ What have you been doing here since you started this thread. Do you have the huge huge gunnera like the one they have near the fountain in the quarry at Butchart? Dogwoods maybe a bit further back from the water with trillium, ginger and all the little .... cant think of the name under them. Trout lilies but there is a real name for them. Carpets of white ones in Beacon Hill Park. Pat Parkes on Salt Spring has the most wonderful watery thingys. ( As well as Sib iris of course).
We are having a grey Victoria/Sidney day here.
inanda
Well, things have been pretty slow, as I have been sick for about ten days and we have been having really s******y weather!! Although I must not complain about today! It is lovely out today, and it is about time. (Possible rain tomorrow! : - (
We have started hauling a few rocks to the edge of the slough, and will do that over the next few months, as we have tons of rocks in this yard that need a home!
Today, I have started doing some cleaning in my pond, and I think I will try and get a couple of waterlilies put down in the mud of the slough, plus I might try a bit of pickerel rush at the edge. Also, we have a small elderberry tree a neighbour gave us, and after some research found it likes wet feet and deer don't like it!!! Two pluses! I don't think I can do dogwood as the deer eat them. And after talking to Brugcrazy, I may try a brug over there, but will have to raise a bed for it so it has good drainage. I have a small one that I started this winter, so will give it a try.
Yes, I have the very large gunnera, and I am just amazed at how fast it is growing. I will try and take a picture and show you the growth from may 1 to now. At this rate, it will take over the yard by July!
Many, many things to do!!!!
Here's a pic of the gunnera taken yesterday. You can see how much it has grown since the first picture at the beginning of May.
This is the neighbour's 7 year old. You can see the size of the leaves compared to his tiny little hand!!
The beginnings of putting rocks at the edge of the slough. I just go around the yard and pick up misc. rocks, then throw them in at the edge until they start to build up. I think it will look pretty darn good once it's done. But that might take all summer!!!
Cannas and iris were the first things to come to my mind.
Marsh hibiscus http://davesgarden.com/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=marsh+hibiscus&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search&searcher[common]=Hardy%20Hibiscus would work there, also.
Oxalis would make a really pretty ground cover. Umbrella plant would do incredibly well in there, but you might have to worry about it taking over.
There are numerous Alocasia and Colocasia that will grow in zone 8. Calla Lilies would also be beautiful in there.
I have a calla lily in a pot that I have been wondering what to do with, as it needs to be moved. Maybe I might try that this year!
Thanks.
Glenda, you must be so excited at having such a big gunnera. Looks wonderful.
Linda, it just keeps growing and growing. It is amazing me!!! I have no idea how big it will get, but it's got a lot of growing season yet!!
