When writing the first post on our new Woodland Garden I began to ennumerate (in my head) the different steps we went through over the years…very slowly at first but concluding with a race to the finish line! And it occurred to me that you, my readers, might gain some valuable info from my adventure “down the rabbit hole.” Hence, I’m going to call this Designing a Woodland Garden 101.

Lay the groundwork (excuse the pun). In the last post, I noted our very early efforts at starting this garden…creating the “just right” curves of the beds, planting evergreens for privacy on our neighbor’s side (rhododendrons, pieris, hollies), freeing up more light, and adding a burm that runs the length of the longest bed. Here, an urn placed on this elevated position draws your eye into the varied plantings.

***Take advantage of opportunities. As broken hearted as we were to see an old friend (150 years old) leave us, the absence of the Gingko has provided the additional light that we needed to move forward (since I could never have voluntarily removed any tree). Now, new specimen trees are thriving, grass is now actually filling the paths, and the lack of wetness has made a longer list of plants able to survive here…and assure that our collection of many cultivars of hostas will be happy.

The juxtaposition of plants supplies the most visual interest for the viewer. As with all effective garden design guidelines… use of leaf shape and size, color and texture, all shades of green…placement is everything. Here, the impact of the white-leafed Brunnera next to the feathery ‘ostrich’ fern next to the dark green, shiny European ginger makes quite an impression.

Indulge yourself! Specimen trees and shrubs are worth every penny you pay for them…especially in a smallish space where each can be seen and enjoyed. The luscious white-blooming Cercis Canadensis takes the place of the former gingko and pays homage to this old warrior.

A weeping Katsura provides shelter for the “French blue” cast iron bench.

The rare, variegated-leaf Zalkova, which I purchased at the Newport Flower Show many years ago, has now become the star of the garden as more sunshine comes her way!

A sweeping swath of Kirengeshoma, with their graceful flowers and interesting leaves, carry out the color scheme of the garden. Also known as yellow wax bells, they are invaluable as they bloom throughout August.

And evergreen holly spheres add a sense of “bulking” that grounds the planting on the gingko bed while adding contrast with the chartreuse coleus and ‘Chinese’ ginger.

Create surprises. While part of the Woodland Garden’s charm is its sense of seclusion, a view over the yew hedge allows a beguiling peek of the architectural features of our French Normandy home.

 Pay attention to special details. I love little surprises indigenous to a Woodland — like on old tree stump, covered in moss and surrounded by May Apple leaves and a wonderfully small, striped hosta.

Flowers, per se, are not the focus of this garden, but I do enjoy the ones that show up for just a few weeks to enhance their host plant (ie. orange Ligularia and white hosta).

Every garden deserves a signature! My head gardener, Kathleen Cotta, has been adding “paisleys” to these “in development” beds over the past few years…here, ‘tassel’ ferns (left) curl around hostas ‘Stained Glass’ (right). To make the garden more provocative, each paisley is a different plant cultivar: artemesia ‘silver bullet,’ European ginger, Japanese painted fern, Brunnera ‘Jack Frost.’ 

Accept that your garden will always be a work in progress. I’ve already started tweaking this one…which is part of the fun of being a gardener (now that we have a bit more light, the Sambucus can be espaliered up the backside of the dovecote in the far corner). Stay tuned for updates!

Celebrate this new lease on life. Not only is a party a proven, for sure way to meet a “finish by” deadline but it’s a great occasion to share something that will bring pleasure to so many friends and visitors.

Thank you for joining me in our new garden at Parterre….and stay tuned for a post of the many Japanese maples creating a magical flame border in the fall.