Friday, May 01, 2015

PROGRESS REPORT - driveway woodland garden

In August of  2013 I first posted that "my ultimate goal is to make it feel as though the driveway cuts right through my garden" which meant converting a significant piece of forest hillside covered in dead leaves and fallen tree branches into a lush green expanse of Lily-of-the-Valley, Periwinkle and natives including Ferns & Columbine. 

I love our staircase and the thick carpet of green on either side.  Last year for the first time from this perspective the green seamlessly jumped from below to above the driveway (directly in front of the car).

While upon close inspection there are still patches that need to be filled in, the fact that it can make the hillside appear comfortably 'green-from-a-distance' is a major milestone.

 Thousands of individually transplanted plants are transforming the space.  
Quite a dry hillside initially, my hope is that the dense root mat being formed will help to retain more moisture in the soil.

 Nature may not always plop a gorgeous Ostrich fern in the middle of a decaying stump, but I do.

 More ferns will be added at the base of trees with lights to take full advantage of their nightly display.

 I have learned from Piet Oudolf to move away from the practice of random individual plantings and instead I place the plants in groups to increase their impact, as with these wood ferns in the foreground.

Even if I were never to lift another finger (other than annual raking!), I feel that I have nudged it to a tipping point and it will continue to fill in with little help from me, which is great since most of the summer we have renters at our cottage and I am only there twice a year to maintain the gardens.


Are there any other lovers of woodland landscapes out there?


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Sharing with Floral Friday Fotos, Weekly Top Shot, Today's Flowers, Nature Notes, Garden Tuesday, Maple Hill Hop, Tuesday Garden Party

22 comments:

  1. Looks great. Have a nice weekend.

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    1. Thanks for stopping in and sharing your praise Ingmarie.

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  2. I love woodland landscapes---and sure do miss that shade. My property now bakes in sun all day. Though that is nice (to a point), there's something so cool and refreshing looking about a woodland. You did a great job---looks so natural.

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    1. Thanks Sue, my goal is certainly to maintain a natural feel, so your kind words make me proud.

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  3. The woodland looks lovely - I always prefer gardens with bright dappled shade and trees, Matt

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    1. Thanks for stopping in Matt, glad you enjoyed the woodland.

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  4. This is a lovely lush area. I love the steps up to the car too. Thank you for sharing with Today's Flowers and happy Sunday to you :)

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    1. Happy belated Sunday to you Denise, glad to see you like the lush feel a green space as well.

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  5. What a beautiful place! So peaceful looking. :)

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    1. Thanks Gentle, it truly is very peaceful at the cottage.

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  6. What a beautiful outdoor space. Well done.

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping and and sharing your thoughts FW.

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  7. Absolutely love it! I wish I could walk the path right now. Well done!

    Thanks for joining us at The Maple Hill Hop this week!

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  8. Wow! You have done a wonderful job!! I bet it's just beautiful at night when the lights are lit!

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    1. Pam, I have to admit that as odd as it sounds we sometimes sit in the driveway in the evenings when the breeze off the lake makes the firepit area a bit too cool in spring because of those lights.

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  9. You have a lovely pathway and yard.. I love all the greenery.. Enjoy your day!

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    1. Thank you Eileen, glad to see you've stopped by again to enjoy the views.

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  10. Really beautiful Derek. I do love woodland plants and I have shade in the back so I want to try planting some. I have to fence that area off so the ducks and geese don't walk on them. LOL. A unique problem in my yard. Hope you are enjoying spring as we in the north really deserved it.. Michelle

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    1. There are certainly plenty of interesting woodland plants, especially if one has an appreciation for form and shades of green vs. bright colours.

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  11. Hi Derek, yes I am putting my hand up as a lover of woodland landscapes (give me mountains and forests any time over seas and beaches). You are doing a great deal of good work there and I am sure soon you will see the fruits of your labours.
    Many thanks for participating in Floral Friday Fotos. Your input is appreciated.

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    1. Nick, glad to know there is another lover of woodlands out there, have you checked out Pinterest? There are loads of beautiful woodland landscapes to peruse!

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