I'm surrounded by woods here--between our 25 acres and the acreage around it, there's probably 50 acres of woods full of deer, rabbits, groundhogs, and all manner of diggin', munchin' critters, lol.
Deep Shade III
Mine is a 2-acre suburban, but wooded, lot.
I'm within the interstate beltway surrounding St Louis, so it's certainly not rural.
There were no deer when we first moved in 10+ years ago, but now they're a constant presence.
Not only is the deer population exploding, but there are fewer natural areas for them to hang out,
so they end up in my yard. The truth is is that I think they're beautiful and I would love to enjoy watching them, but it's so frustrating to have to work so hard trying to protect my plants from their damage. And it's not just foraging; the worst damage I fear is the antler rubbing ritual every fall. I've had a dozen young trees killed in that process! I have to surround my young trees w/ deer fencing to try to protect them, which is only partially successful. Ah, the joys of gardening!
Hi all, Have any of you guys that are having critter problems seen this motion activated scarecrow thingy. I too have problems and was curious about it?
www.critterridders.com/scarecrow.htm
Yep, I've seen that, but the sprinkler would zap us, too, and that's the only reason I didn't try them. I wouldn't mind so much, but my mother would freak out!
Coleus is for deep or partial shade right??
Some coleus can be grown in the sun. It depends.
http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s-5-18-107,00.html
I have found some really neat varieties of coleuses this year. Usually I just get the same ole same ole. This year I got some Curly" edged ones. Really neat looking. Love the colors. They have filled in really nicely. I dont know the names. But here is one I got this summer. It get dappled shade mostly all day.
I had some coleus in deep shade last year and it did well, except that it lost some of it's patterning. The one I had was called "The Line", I think, which was chartreuse with a purple line down the center of the leaf. The Line lost the line in deep shade, but was still nice looking.
Oh, I love coleus--and so do the deer and the bunnies...grrrr
Weerobin, Thanks for the cage closeups. I'll do a search and post the results. I think people are confused because they aren't aware of your "customized" usage. These are actually meant to be planted closed side down like a pot in the earth with the roots inside of the wire. Weerobin uses them above ground turned upside down as a cover over his plants. They should actually serve both purposes well and save my bleeding fingers from making all of these pots!!!!
Thanks for clarifying, Stormy.. Excellent description!
I made homemade cages for years and know what Stormy is talking about - bleeding, blisters, and carpal tunnel from using wire cutters 4 hours at a time.
The cages aren't cheap, but for me, they're worth it.
I
We've been busy planting our new woodland garden and thought I'd include a link if you want to take a look: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/888066/ Lots of shade here! Posted this pic on that thread but thought I'd post it here as well. This is one plant that loves the "deep shade" - Pollia japonica http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/69479/. It didn't look like much when it was first planted - no companions - but now that there have been Ferns, etc. planted in the area it really "shines" :)
Beautiful job and some lovely unusual plants rcn. Thanks for sharing you live in a wonderful forest.
Lovely, rcn! Does anyone have any advice on digging native ferns from the woods and transplanting them to my garden spot? I would hate to kill even one of them!
Renee I have several that I have dug in the wild. Just make sure to get quite a bit of soil along with it and water good for several days. Somtimes the foliage will die back but as long as the roots stay moist the foliage will return in a few weeks. I have actually done this any time of year but the best bet would be this fall or next spring I would think. If you want I can bring a few to the Roundup, maybe even a Maidenhair from the wild.
Doug
I've transplanted native cinammon ferns from my Father in law's property to my own without a problem. I just stuck them in large pots, drove straight home, and planted them right away. I've also purchased native ferns from a nature reserve here that does a yearly plant sale of native plants (I assume they dig those up from somewhere on the reserve)
Renee, sorry I thought you were coming to the Roundup but I just went back and checked the list of attendees and your name wasn't there.
Doug
Thanks for thinking of me, Doug. I am focusing on finding a job, so I can't make plans to be away. Thanks for the info on transplanting, though. You, too, Noreaster.
Well you ought to just drive over on Saturday, it's not very far away from you.
Doug
I have found a couple problems with harvesting from the wild. 1 - some just do not transplant well. 2 - some are protected, I have learned why some of the ones that dont do well (of the ones that havn't worked for me, most had "carrot"type tap roots, so I like to read about the plant B4 digging it up......some that do well are May apple, trillium, most ferns. trout lilly, dwarf crested Iris, Pipsisewah, wild geraneum.
What is Pipsisewah? It's not in the plant files. You're right, some of them have amazingly deep roots!
Oh my...I think that is the Native american name for it (?maybe Google it...I cannot think of its "real" name ...oh, perhaps a wintergreen--when it berries it reminds me of the old type gaslight street lamps, with the round white globes ( now, mind you the plant is only about 4" tall in flower so would have to be a "tiny street".)the leaves are slightly speckled also.----I'm warped, I know, but do think in pictures......Have I now murkied the waters even more??
LOL, interesting description! A google search turned up nothing plant-related. It sounds so pretty!
sure...here is it...was under "pipsissewah plant ---PlantFiles: Pipsissewa, Prince's Pine, Ground Holly
Chimaphila umbellata
Family: Pyrolaceae
Genus: Chimaphila (ky-MAF-ih-luh) (Info)
Species: umbellata (um-bell-AY-tuh) (Info)
One member has or wants this plant for trade.
Category:
Doug is right about the ferns, the key is making sure the roots don't dry out. If you identify which ones you want to dig in the fall and then wait until the frost knocks down their foliage it will be much easier on the plant. That way all the energy is concentrated on producing new roots instead of trying to produce new foliage.
Birdie, I LOVE Pipsissewa, such a sweet plant! http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57871/ I had a lovely patch growing in the woodlands where I used to live in Maine. I had so many wonderful wildflowers growing behind my home but Pipsissewa was always one of the first plants I would search for after the snow finally melted away each year :) We have Striped Pipsissewa http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/561/ growing here in Virginia but would love to find the other some day to include in the new woodland garden!
Ahhh, thanks for the link, rcn48. Birdie, I can understand how ya could misspell such a weird word, lol ! It's actually fun to say it, though.
This was so much fun to read all about shade gardening. I actually have this "Pipsissewa" and have been trying to find it's name. We are here for many years, noticed it first last year and now have more. Love it. Wild Ginger is a good underplant material for Hostas and ground cover.
I think this is just the most precious tiny plant, and to me it is just the picture image of the old time street gaslights lamps those of you who really love woodland wildflowers, lore, etc should try to check out the Annual Wildflower Pilgrimage in Gatlinburg, Va. It is Each year (usually the last wed - Sat in April. Hosted by the TN University System and attended by people representing most states and many countries. Each day begins with a bird walk and then a very broad choice of all day or 2 half day trips "courses" I t was for my mother and I always just a wonderfully full and exciting week of learning and feasting our eyes of some of the b]most breathtaking early spring wildflower sights imaginable. I recall a single pink Ladies Slipper that was about 2' up a steep bank...the growth and leaves were worn away all around it, but it sat there so proudly because of so many who had respected it for MANY years by simply "capturing" it in photo...another time we rounded a bend of a walk rated "easy" to hear everyone including us collectively go ahhhhh.....we saw both above and below hillside of trout lilies and spring beauties, as we heard the lilting songs of warblers above...........ahhhh...wonderful memories............didn't mean to get off on a tangent there, and don't know how I got there from Pipsisewah......ho yes I do ....that is where I learned about the tiny native plant!
The trout lilies are my favorite of the ones we have here. Such an ugly name for a pretty plant, though! lol
I know they are so delicate. I really want some for my shady garden. For the size they really are pretty showy. But I also love the above photos, what ever they are called. LOL. Very cute and delicate.
Have all of you shady gardeners crawled under those trees for winter hibernation????
I sure haven't...But , tonight's weather reporter said this weekend is gonna likely bring a 30* night or 2 and I for 1, think that is just a crock!! It is simply to derned early and I am not prepared to bring in all my babies yet. Heck, here in the Piedmont, the plants a re usually wall safe outside till around mid to end of Oct.
guess I'll be doing the garage rush and then pull 'em back out for a good cleaning.
If ...er rather, when it does get cold, you betcha I hibernate til spring. My entire system changes. Frends say I'm a complete different person during the sunnywarm months. (Wish I still lived on Coronado Island like when a young child). Winter is Ugh!
Interesting question there, Stormy!
Stay on the warm and dry side. =^..^= ;-))
I was wondering the samr thing stormyla!!!! Where did everyone go? Nice to see you post. I guess everyone is to busy with the winterizing thing. I have been. Ronna
Wow, only 30 in NC this early?! We're supposed to get a couple of nights in the 40's, but oh, my, Birdie, yep, better rescue your babies!
Anybody know what could be eating my huechera? I don't see any slugs on it, but there are little holes in the leaves. Oh, well, at least it's not the deer or bunnies...
I vote for slugs. I seldom see them where the damage is.
I'm planning on dividing some hakone grass next week and using it as an edging in a garden that doesn't have enough structure in it. Should be pretty. We can plant pretty late into the fall here.
Hi Everybody, Glad to see you're all still awake. I need some help with selecting a variety of Jack in the Pulpit. Does anyone grow these? I know they come in many different colors and heights. I hear that some are garden bullies. I think that they are all spring blooming and most like pretty deep shade. I want something maroon or dark pink and not very tall. Anybody know of any?
Does anyone grow Dutchman's Breech? Thanks!
I've fallen in love with this Georgia Peach Heuchera. My other favorite for color right now is Tiarella Crow Feather, but I'm not so sure about the form. It's newly planted and the leaves seem to be all sort of bunched up and jumbled. Maybe they'll look better as they grow.
Here's the Tiarella Crow Feather.
Ooo, those are pretty! Thanks for the tip on the slugs, doss--I will treat for those.
I have thesse Arum many places in my garden. It is a relative to Jack and it's flower id a Jack. Here's a picture of one of mine
