Woodland Gardens

I haven't always gardened on a small urban lot, but even in the city trees present a challenge. One side of our house is given over to rusticity. Here we stash much of the plant material from pruned shrubs and dead foliage as well as leftover mulch delivered by our county as part of the `Black Gold' program. Over time, some of the dead plants have renewed themselves in this little "wilderness" either because a not quite dead root found nourishment, or seeds sprouted. As a result, I decided a few years ago I needed to assist the site and make it a `woodsy' niche. The first thing we did was fight the ivy, which is so tenacious. After I pull it, I hang it over the fence to dry (as well as pull it from the fence, which my unknowing neighbors never do). Next, we purposely amended the soil using mulch from the city program. Then we made sure the bushes and shrubs and the trees were pruned to let in a little light. Next, we added `civilized' plants such as a Camellia, Hellebores, Tiarella, Violets, Arum Lily, Hosta, Spring bulbs including Scilla, which makes a nice appearance as "blue bells" in spring, and other denizens of the woodlands identified in the BBG WOODLAND GARDENS. We did this the hard way, learning in dribs and drabs, but you have a choice. You can purchase a book from the BBG that covers all the angles on gardening in woodlands (well, as much as you need to get started -- my only complaint is that the entry on invasive plants is pathetic). In a series of articles by respected garden writers, the BBG monograph includes sections covering `Woodlands Ecology', Woodlands Gardens' and Woodland Plants'. Authors include Colston Burrell, a well known garden designer on the East Coast (and the editor of this monograph) and Daniel Hinckly, who is associated with Heronswood Nursery on the West Coast. The various woodlands gardens range from "real" woodlands at the edge of a "clearing" to tree planted areas constructed in urban areas. The section covering plants is divided into regions, and the `Mid-Atlantic' is split from the `Northeast' and the `Deep South', of which it is both.

A wonderful modern reference book detailing a variety of wood shaded garden techniques for various areas of North America.