New Plantings

The spring dry spell has ended, allowing some new plantings to replace those lost from voles or from being in the wrong spot.  Experience has shown that some parts of the garden are shadier or dryer or wetter than first thought. Plant the right plant in the wrong spot and it just won't take.  Funding came from gift certificates.

Wild Ginger, added to the garden in a new location (far back right side)

We already have some Wild Ginger in the garden, but I wanted to expand this plant to a second location. It likes partial to full shade and moist conditions. I know of one small patch of Wild Ginger growing wild in Shelton, and it would be nice to expand this native. Sadly, it is a plant that foragers dig up for cooking. The roots smell exactly like the regular ginger you cook with, which I discovered while dividing a clump.

Heartleaved Skullcap (Scutellaria ovata) 

Skullcap has attractive foliage and can handle both shade and dry conditions, which is hard to find.  It may die back when it gets too hot out.  This is a new species for the garden.

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Oak Leaf Hydrangea can grow to more than six feet tall, but we're starting out tiny.  I was looking for a part to full shade location that would be moist but not waterlogged, and where the shrub would block the view of the other plants. The spot I chose had horrible soil -- nothing but compacted clay and rock, so I had to dig out a big hole and mix a lot of leaf compost in. All the rocks in the photo were originally in that hole.  This hydrangea is native in the southeast Appalachians.

Field Pussytoes

All our field pussytoes mysteriously vanished over the winter, so these are replacements. This time they were planted on a dry spot out front rather than on the strawberry hill, which can be soaked for weeks at a time.

Wild Pink (Silene Carolininiana).  Previously planted on a spot that was too wet. 

Wild Pink is another plant that we previously had on the wet/dry strawberry slope, but it perished there. Just too shady and wet.  This time it's out front to the right of the front steps.

Wild Pink growing wild at Indian Well State Park

Coincidentally, I found the same species growing on the Paugussett Trail two days later, growing out of shear rock, near the overlook at Indian Well.  The flower was literally growing on the trail, getting stepped on. And yet it died when planted in a spot that was too wet.

Sundrop (Oenothera 'Cold Crick'). Adding to what we have. 

Sundrops is a favorite at the garden. This is a natural primrose hybrid that doesn't spread all over the garden. The voles took their toll on this plant over the past few years.

Thread-leaf Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii). 

 Thread-leaf Bluestar is a new one at the garden.  Is is drought tolerant and can handle full sun to part shade, and is deer resistant.

Two Leaf Miterwort (Mitella diphylla)  

Two Leaf Miterwort is another new species for the garden with attractive foliage. Handles dry to moist soils in part to full shade.

Canada Anemone

And finally, more Canada Anemones.  Love the foliage, and they will spread in the right location. This one and the miterwort prefer a higher pH than what we normally have in Shelton, so they will need to be limed.