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PLANTS THAT WELCOME THE DELUGE

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Camden, Maine - Version 2

After the gazillionth inch of rain along the east coast, thanks to a tango being performed by Joaquin and a pesky nor’easter, it seemed appropriate to fire off a list of plants that will tolerate, and even welcome, wet soil.  I took the picture above while visiting Camden, Maine during one of its wettest months  on record.  Ferns and Hostas are perfectly happy under such conditions.

 

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Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia) is native to Virginia.

 

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Magnolia virginiana (Sweetbay Magnolia) is native to Virginia.

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Betula nigra (River Birch) is native to Virginia.

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Hydrangea (Hydra=water), with the exception of Oakleaf Hydrangea, tolerates wet soil.  Above is the classic Hydrangea macrophylla.

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Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ (Smooth Hydrangea); the species is native to Virginia.

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Hydrangea paniculata ‘Tardiva’ (Limelight and Pee Gee are other cultivars of this species)

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Calycanthus floridus (Eastern Allspice) is native to Virginia.

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Callicarpa americana (American Beautyberry) is native to Virginia.  I took this picture along a trail on Jamestown Island.

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Aronia arbutifolia (Chokeberry) is native to Virginia.

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Tradescantia virginiana (Virginia Spiderwort) is native to Virginia.

I took this picture on Richmond’s wild and natural Belle Isle.

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Myosotis sylvatica (Forget-Me-Not)

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Iris siberica (Siberian Iris).  Many Iris, including the native Iris versicolor (Blue Flag Iris)

will tolerate continuous bog conditions.

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Panicum virgatum (Switchgrass) is native to Virginia.

DSC_0291Mertensia virginica (Virginia Bluebell) is native to Virginia.

DSC_0293This rain garden (installed by Capital Trees as part of the renovation of  Great Shiplock Park) filters  polluted storm water from the park’s parking lot before it enters the historic James River and Kanawha Canal.  Native plants, including Eutrochium purpureum (Joe Pye Weed), Chasmanthium latifolium (Northern Sea Oats) and Panicum virgatum (Switch Grass) thrive in the garden.  Ilex glabra (Inkberry), Itea virginica (Virginia Sweetspire), Clethra alnifolia (Sweet Pepperbush) and Callicarpa americana (Beautyberry) — all native shrubs that tolerate wet soil– border the state-of-the-art biofiltration planters.

HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK 2015: LOTS TO DO

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Historic Garden Week, presented by the Garden Club of Virginia since 1927, is underway in Richmond. We’ve ordered up some gorgeous weather, so call in sick, grab a buddy, tie up your mucky shoes and see some fabulous gardens.

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Wednesday’s tour is the Hermitage Road area.  Most of the homes in this Ginter Park neighborhood were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Wrenford, above,  was built in 1896.

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While you’re out that way, grab a burger at Roy’s Big Burger (make it part of a picnic at nearby Bryan Park), then head down the street to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden to see the Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica), above, and thousands of blooming bulbs, trees, shrubs and perennials.

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Also open Wednesday is Westover Plantation, built by the Byrd family in the eighteenth century.  If you’re up for a relaxing drive along a country road, head east on Route 5 to see one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in the United States.
DSC_0508If you loved your drive east to Westover, turn around and head west to Tuckahoe Plantation, the boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson. Tuckahoe is open Wednesday through Friday as part of the Richmond tour. Mr. Jefferson would be proud that the Thompson family has lovingly restored and cultivated the gardens, providing a feast for the eyes and many lessons for nature lovers and experts.

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Thursday’s tour is of the homes and gardens on Kingcrest Parkway, just a stone’s throw from the corner of Malvern and Grove.  While touring the homes, take note of the spectacular arrangements created by members of the Boxwood, James River, Three Chopt and Tuckahoe garden clubs. I’ll share more of these arrangements in a later blog post.  To see some past Garden Week arrangements, visit my prior blogs.

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Friday’s tour takes place along the Cary Street corridor. Robin Hill, above, originally was a farm overlooking the James River.  Eventually, some of the property was sold off and developed as the Hillcrest neighborhood, but four and a half acres were preserved, and now contain extensive brick and stone pathways, allees, perennial and shrub borders water features and secret gardens.

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After checking off all those homes and gardens on your Green Ticket, go grab a beer in Shockoe Bottom, then check out the 15,000 Daffodils (with a river of Bluebells running through them) along Dock Street.   Capital Trees  planted the bulbs along the Virginia Capital Trail, after working with the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation to renovate Great Shiplock Park just to the East. Stay tuned to hear about more exciting plans for this area in the near future.

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