Woodland Gardens

By Mary Jo Baur


Woodland gardens are definitely shade gardens since the trees bordering the area provide a leafy canopy.  Perhaps you have an area of your yard where native trees grow, or where you have planted some ornamental trees.  The land around these trees could lend itself to a cool, refreshing woodland garden with moss, ferns, and shade-loving plants.

I have an area in my back yard about three feet wide by 30 feet long that I call my woodland garden.  I grow several different kinds of hosta there, plus bleeding hearts, astilbe, pulmonaria, and some siberian iris.  In the spring, before it gets too shady, I also have 3 kinds of daffodils.  Lily of the valley also does well in shade.  In the summer, I add some annuals for color such as coleus, impatiens or begonias.  Once established, this kind of garden is easy-care.  I occassionally water it, but that is usually not necessary.  Other perennials you could include would be lady's mantle, foxglove, hellebores, or perennial geraniums.  They like dappled shade.  It's pleasant to look out toward the woods and see some bright colors and interesting foliage.