When I look at the wildflowers blooming in the fields and woods at Glen Villa, I wonder why I plant a garden at all. How can I hope to compete with this?
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| Buttercups turn the Upper Field to gold. The partially visible metal structure is a sculpture called Bridge Ascending, by Louise Doucet and Satoshi Saito. |
Simple buttercups now cover the field, splendidly cheerful en masse, and so yellow and shiny that they brighten the dullest day and lift the heaviest spirits.
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| There are many varieties of buttercups. I haven’t tried to determine which this one is. |
This past week as I explored the fields and woods at Glen Villa, I continually came across large natural masses of wildflowers and plants. The sweep of Veratrum viride pictured below was most impressive.
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| The pleated foliage is particularly attractive at this time of year. |
Along the edge of the driveway, ragged robin mingles with buttercups and the occasional lupin.
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| The colour and deeply notched lobes make this plant easy to identify. |
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| Purple and gold: a cholesterol-rich colour combination. |
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| Backlit in the late afternoon, the colours are particularly vibrant. Bumblebees love the nectar. |
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| Despite the name, I feel quite lucky when I see the devil’s paint works. |
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| Orange hawkweed or Devil’s paintbrush? |
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| Golden Alexanders are members of the carrot family. |
In the Upper Field, blue flag irises were blooming in substantial clumps. A few years ago, I transplanted some to the edge of the stream that runs through the Asian Meadow. The growing conditions seemed to be the same, yet the transplants have not reappeared. Can anyone suggest why?
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| The blue flag iris that grows in the Upper Field is much darker than many. I prefer the stronger colour. |
Everywhere, wildflowers are waiting to be spotted. Purple avens (Geum rivale) nod their heads in a damp section of another field across the road….
not far from a drier area that is dotted with red clover (Trifolium pratense).
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| This clover looks more pink than red. But red clover is its name. |
So I ask again: how can any gardener compete with the beauty and diversity of the arrangements made by nature? I offer as proof this photo of ragged robin, blooming by the Skating Pond. A simple addition, not overdone, and perfectly placed. Gardening at its best.
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| Ragged robin edges the Skating Pond. |
Great assortment of wild flowers! Peonies out here and I am still climbing over back yard fences looking for Lady Byng!
Your question about a list of wildflowers prompted this post. I didn’t specifically go looking for wildflowers but was more aware of them than I might otherwise have been. My list must have been on another computer — I can’t find it — so I plan to start a new one.
I totally agree – nature does it best….but it’s fun to have a friendly competition with nature in a designed garden!
Great phrase.. a friendly competition with nature. I’ll remember that.