The bridging weeks between spring and summer are always magical, as the garden truly comes alive! Last week, I was hanging out in the native plant garden at the New York Botanical Garden, and was fan-girling all over the place!
The 3.5 acre native garden features only plants that are native to north-eastern USA and actually comprises 100,000 trees, shrubs, wildflowers, ferns and grasses. The design is sweeping and contemporary, with handsome blocks of some of the sweetest colours! Here are 10 of my favourites!
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- Aquilegia are easy to establish and spread by seed, although will cross-hybridise if other Aquilegia are nearby.
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- A native which originally occurred from Maine down to Northern Florida, most often planted as specimen tree in home gardens these days.
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- Also known as Golden Alexanders, this native is part of the carrot family. Loves wet, but can cope well with dry!
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- An intriguing triangular plant, though not always easy to establish in the UK. Native to the Great Smoky Mountains, and enjoying dappled shade.
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- There is nothing more glorious than how the sun shines through the spring fronds of a fern!
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- The Fringed Bleeding Heart is well known to European gardeners as a beautiful border plant, in the USA it’s native to Eastern USA.
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- The Maidenhair Fern is so delicate and pretty. Enjoys a damp, shady corner and is native to both America and Asia.
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- Oh wow, the double-flowered form of Trillium grandiflorum. Flowers for longer too, as nobody can get into the flower to pollinate it!
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- The Dogs Tooth Violet is native to Northern America and is part of the Primrose family. Loves moist, drained soil in dappled shade.
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- A little shade and this Hardy Geranium will romp away. As a native, it grows wild in Missouri woods or by the shaded roadside.
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