The subtle beauty of a woodland garden is a sight to behold. Serene, delicate, complex. understated yet lively, rich but firmly grounded – are but a few observations of a Twombly Nursery designed woodland garden. Running from the native to the exotic, a woodland garden can inspire reaction, investigation, solitude or communion. It’s a wonderful space in which to garden.
They say gardeners start out wanting lots of color, so annuals are a natural starting point. It leads to adventures in perennials and experimenting with woody shrubs and ornamental trees. Along the way, the gardener and garden matures and grows. And they usually evolve into something that can closely represent the basics of a woodland garden. Quiet appreciation for leaf shape, edited choices for the best specimen trees, rediscovery of subtle but sturdy natives, time to stop and smell the fragrances and a sense of structure in design as well as plant selections – all add to the overall design concept.
We offer a list of our favorite plants and a small sampling of what can be done with them. A few random thoughts –
Groupings and swaths of
plants are one of our trademarks. It makes no sense
to plant one Ilex verticillata if the space calls
for five. Or if a blanket of 33 heuchera would do
the job better, it’s best not to plant just
three of something.
We also stress the gradual
stepping down from the tree line to a midground,
melding with a foreground planting and finally
merging with a groundcover planting.
Pay close attention to leaf
sizes, texture of companion plantings and foliage
color to ensure a cohesive look. An explosion of
spring color will provide quite a show, but the
large chunk of visual excitement will come in other
forms than just bloom color.
Don’t force plants
into a design that have cultural requirements in
conflict with a woodland setting. There are plenty
of great selections to explore without having to
resort to plants that will struggle if their needs
are not properly met.
Hard to find plants and unusual selections are easy to locate at our Nursery in Monroe, CT. Call or e-mail us for sizes, availability and to reserve your plants today.
