New Woodland Garden-Ideas, anyone?

Ivy can get out of hand easily, but if left in pots, it's a possibility. That's not an easy problem. Some sort of nicer thing in front of it may be another option instead of plants. Lattice or williow fence, which you can attach to that fence. Or maybe even a Garden sculpture, fountain or statue to take the focus away from it.

I love sweet woodruff, and it spreads like crazy, fast. But it doesn't have those deep roots like LOTV, so I don't think of it as much as a problem plant. It's so soft looking...makes me want to take a nap on it or something, lol.

I know everyone groans at LOTV, but it is pretty. I have an army of it, and it's getting ready to bloom soon.

Tiarella is something I don't have, but really need to find a place for. I love the little flowers.

Deb, don't forget the Iris - with that bench and location, it looks like a Monet-in-the-making!

I know what you mean Noreaster. ☺

That's so pretty. I think I have a good spot for some, too, but I really have way too many other plants to begin with. What to do, what to do...

How do you like the foliage when it's not blooming?

Foliage is very nice. 'Sugar and Spice' has a nice shape and dark middle.

That's why I choose this one... the 'Candy Striper'. The foliage is deeply lobed with nice dark veining, gives a nice dramatic effect and stands out from the background. Just got 3 of them on Wed for my shady area. ☺

Great lighting Victor. ☺

Lifted this pic off the 'net, these are mature plants.

Thanks WC. I like the leaf shape on that one.

I have "Foam Flower" on my 2009 wish list for the shade garden.
I really wish I had bought it this year.
Victor your Sugar and Spice is fabuoola

Thank you, Jo Anne.

Primrose Sue: you are so right about the iris. There are some lovely yellow ones that typically bloom right in front of those trees at the edge of the pond. Nature's Gardener put them there. There are also some purple around some years.

Those foam flowers are beautiful. I did not see one today at Trade Secrets, though.

Okay, today was the Trade Secrets Rare Plant and Garden Antiques show in Sharon Connecticut. Did anyone go? I did and I'd love to compare notes with you.

Anyhoo, I took a shopping list of all of the suggestions from my wonderful friends on this forum, and while MOST of the suggestions were not there, some were. Here's what I bought for this woodland streamside area:

Ligularia japonica
http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/Detail/04846.html

Variegated Solomon's Seal
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/37115/

Waxy Yellow Bells
Kirengeshoma Korena
http://www.rainyside.com/features/plant_gallery/perennials/Kirengeshoma_palmataKoreanaGroup.html

and, not that they "go" down there or anything, but because I could not resist:

Primula Veris "Sunset Shades"
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/202/495608938_6c61c40940.jpg?v=0

Looks like a nice start! Ligularia 'Britt-Marie Crawford' is a great one with practically black foliage.

Yes, and I also have some sweet woodruff I can transplant from another garden and those columbine (?) I talked about and those lilies of the valley and strawberries that are already down there. I just need someone to come and clean up the Poison Ivy and other crap. Oh, wait. That will have to be ME! Waaaaahh!

Victor, that is a gorgeous picture...makes me want some even more than I already do, drat.

The variegated Solomon's Seal is one of my favorite shade plants. I like the larger, solid color one too, but I only have the smaller variegated one. It came up this year with one all white stalk, which even has it's own little flower hanging down.

Good luck with the Poison Ivy, and happy planting!

Thanks. Daisy, I have said this before, but Brush-B-Gone is great on PI.

This is very true. I have found it to be the best. Found some PI and wanted to send it off to PI heaven, but I'm out of Brush-Be-Gone. For those who are reluctant to spray and risk hitting other plants, I've been advised to "paint it on the offending plants.

The "yellow iris" may be I. Pseudacorus so watch out they are invasive especially in a small area. Try I.cristata which is low growing and likes shade. Bulbus iris in early spring is I. reticulata. I love Jack in the Pulpit and trillium.

I like the Jack in the pulpit Brooklyngirl put up but it's pricey!! Going to test a regular one out first see how it does here. Solomons seal is one of my favorites, I just bought another clump of the variegated ones. I have an even dozen now. ☺

You're right WC, there are some beautiful Jack in the Pulpit, but too pricey for me, at least right now.

Might the Yellow Iris be what we called "Yellow Flaggs"?
They are wild and invasive.

Yes, Jack in the Pulpit's a pricey one. You're a naughty one, Saucy Jack! He was a splurge. I'll let you know how he does, though, daisy. Is there a way to "share" him once he's grown up? Can you split them or take cuttings or something? Forgive the beginner questions, but that's just what I am!

On a side note, unless weeds grow in perfect little rows, I definitely have some radishes poking up this morning! I'm so excited. Veggie garden was the first thing I planted, and it looks like it's working. I went through a week of stressing about whether anything I'd planted would actually grow. I grew up on a farm in Central California and spent my summers in the fields. I'm so happy (1) that I'm back in the dirt, (2) that I haven't forgotten how things grow, and (3) that I can call mom and dad and tell them that a little bit o' home has made its way to Brooklyn!

Last note: my dad is sending me some cotton seed in a few weeks, and I'm happy to share. He gave some to his mother last year, and the neighbors oohed and aahed over the gorgeous blooms. Pretty plant, and it'd be a pretty funky/unique addition to any garden. If you're down, let me know!

Wow - from central CA to Brooklyn! Quite a change. Do you have a photo of the cotton?

I have successfully transplanted the jack-in-the-pulpits around in my garden. They spread quite nicely.

Great, mamasita. So, daisy...when and if my Jacks come up, I'll send ya some! Will definitely need advice on how to do it once they come up.

I'll get a pic for ya, Vic.

Thanks, brooklyngirl!

Mamasita, that's really encouraging that your Jacks transplanted. I have some in some woods on the property and was thinking about trying to move one as a "test."

And the iris that come to the stream and pond are all wild...I haven't planted any. Some years we get one or two, other years there's quite a show.

Daisy, I will check how the Jacks are doing in the back. If they are doing well, I will send some up to you. It seems they do better some years. I've also had some critter that munches on them occasionally. But you are welcome to have some. Same with the huge ferns that grow in the woods.

- Lynn

Lynn, thanks! What a gift!

Here are the Jack's I have on my property. I don't know what kind - just "wild".

Wild and gorgeous!

P.S. - I've transplanted them, no problem. I think I even moved them around this time of year, too.

Mine are wild, too. Couldn't give you any special name!

They are so beautiful!!!

I was poking around down at the willow "patch" this morning, and found these. At first I thought they were a big juicy poison ivy plant, but realized they stood on long fleshy stems coming out of the ground.

Could they be a ... trillium???

The leaves don't look anything like the trillium I found at my MIL's.

But what else could they be?

Here is my MIL's trillum, note different kind of leaves, but similar stem structure.

Oh, and I also found a zillion...literally of these. Could they be wild columbine?

Hi every one here, just scanned through this thread because I too have lots of shady places where lady slippers and lots of lilies of the valley grow,

Daisy that I think that is poison ivy, have tons of that too, it looks just like it

Victor and WC what is the name of that spiky flower you showed a picture of, I think it is beautiful, probably you did tell but some how I missed it

Maria

Hi Maria. It's Tiarella (Foamflower). I think it looks like poison ivy too. A closer shot would be better.