Foliage Day: July, 2015
I am a flower-centric gardener, and so it is useful to be reminded that a garden is about more than blooms. Which is exactly the service performed by Garden Bloggers’ Foliage Day, sponsored by Christina at My Hesperides Garden.
At this point in the summer the warm-season grasses start to assert their presence, especially the ‘Northwind’ Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum).
It makes a nice backdrop for the ‘Raspberry Wine’ Monarda.
So does the Nothern Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium).
The seed heads on the Chasmanthium have started to form, creating a sort of pointilist effect.
And while I’m on the subject of grasses, let me show you this clump of Little Bluestem (Schizacyrium scoparium) I planted in the Lamppost Bed. There’s two ‘Jazz’, two ‘Carousel’, and two straight species. Why did I do it like this? Pure whimsy. Also behind them there’s a ‘Shenandoah’ Switchgrass that was almost shaded to death in another location. It is slowly coming back to life.
In addition to grasses, there are ferns that are holding up well so far this summer. Lady Ferns (Athyrium filix-femina) look pale green and delicate but they are pretty tough..
This mystery fern makes a nice contrast to the Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense).
And these ferns are happy to be located next to a small water fountain.
I committed mayhem among the Ostrich Ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) in order to keep them from taking over the Front Foundation Bed. The remnant seems to be getting over the shock.
Berries are not the same as foliage, but they’re not flowers either, so I say they count. The berries on the Starry Solomon’s Plume (Smilacina stellata) are still ripening.
Same thing with the Solomon’s Plume (Smilacina racemosa). They are a sort of copper color now, but will be bright red when ripe.
The Cranberrybush Viburnum (Viburnum opulus var. americanum) berries are plentiful this year, and just starting to ripen.
But the Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum) aren’t very fruitful, but their arching stems are appealing even so.
One last thing. Great Merrybells (Uvularia grandiflora) is generally grown for its spring flowers, but in moist soil it makes a nice ground cover.
For more foliage and garden vignettes, visit My Hesperides Garden and Annamadeit at Flutter and Hum.
gardeninacity 
I’ve always liked that raspberry bee balm, but only ever planted red and the light pink. Yours are very nice!
Thank you! My Bee Balm is all red or purple.
You have some attractive pairings. I like that fern and Wild Ginger.
I agree, they go together well.
I like ‘Northwind’ very much. It was a gift; I’ve divided it several times and it keeps on growing. Shenandoah is another favourite. I chose it because of the name — I grew up in Virginia and it’s nice to have a reminder of that.
Plus the color on Shenandoah is really nice.
The ferns are always so eye-catching. They are just perfect against the birdbath
Thanks.
I have many of your foliage plants too: lady fern, wild ginger, Solomon’s seal, Northern sea oats, and little bluestem.
What I would like to know is how vigorous is the Northwind panicum? My daughter has some type of ornamental grass that looks magnificent when green, then in full bloom and even through the winter with its swirls of white. But, I swear, she’ll need a backhoe to get it out of the ground. Its new growth is outward, leaving a non-productive center and it is a major undertaking to just trim it back each March. I now know why I don’t like ornamental grasses. Perhaps Northwind is different.
I’ve had my Northwind for about five years, and haven’t yet seen a dead center. I have never divided it. I believe it will make a huge clump eventually but I don’t know that it never needs dividing. I have removed large clumps of Canada Wild Rye and Northern Sea Oats and it is a MAJOR job.
I really like your description of the effect the seed heads on the Chasmanthium has. In combination with the Monarda there does seem to be a kind of Pointillism. With the weight of the seed heads waving around, there’s a lot of energy in the image. Your ferns look great, even the monster one–does it play well the the Clematis? And I have a weakness for plants like those Great Merrybells. The way the leaves seem sewn through by the stems–perfoliate (had to look that up)–strikes me as funny, like a set designer who didn’t have time to glue all the leaves to stems just pulled the stems through holes in the leaves.
The monster fern doesn’t play well with anyone, it must be disciplined with a shovel. The perfoliate leaves do give the Merrybells a unique look that I’ve always liked.
So loving the grasses! ‘Northwind’ really is amazing…it’s hard to beat it for that wonderful, vertical thrust it gives…and you know I can never get enough Little Bluestem 🙂
It was probably because of your photos that I decided I had to have some.
Jason, lots and lots of interesting things going on in your garden. You have beautiful foliage. It’s so healthy looking.
Thank you, it’s been a good year for most foliage.
I have a real soft spot for all of those Salomon’s Seal-y plants, and I’m also a big fan of the Merry bells. They all do pretty well in my garden, although my Polygonatum verticillatum is clearly telling me it needs more light. I love the Little blue stem grasses. This year, my clump has tripled in size! Exciting!
Wow! How many years did that take with the Little Bluestem? You may have just made me impatient.
It was in a 4″ pot when I bought it. Now it’s starting to fill out nicely. We didn’t have much of a winter here – I’m sure that helped!
For someone who professes not to think about foliage you have some rather fine combinations, either with other foliage or with flowers. I’m envious of your ferns, they all look like they’re really happy and thriving. Thanks so much for joining GBFD this month, Jason.
It’s been a good year for ferns, and plants that like moist, cooler conditions in general.
Your posts are usually so floriferous. Who knew that the foliage was equally impressive.
Nice of you to say!
Some lovely planting combinations here, Jason. I particularly love that first shot of the Panicum and Monarda. I love grasses for their see-through quality, grace and scrappy form.
I meant ‘strappy’! That’s predictive typing for you!
But I would say those grasses never back away from a fight, so scrappy also applies!
Panicums are especially nice because they stay so upright. No lounging about for them!
Loving the look of Chasmanthium. So how tall is? If it is arching over Monarda I guess something over 1m?
More like 1.5 meters (4-5′). I have to use hoops to keep it from flopping over. Just beware that it does spread by seed and is difficult to remove.
I have Carex pendula doing that already!
Your wild ginger is thick and lush. I had it planted in shade gardens at our cottage in Maine but it never did very well…perhaps just too cold for it to thrive.
It seems to grow pretty easily around here.
Please let us know your experience with the Little Bluestem cultivars which are usually promoted for their lack of flopping late in the season. I have The Blues here and although it is lovely now, once it begins to flower and set seed it begins to lean and lay down — uck! The first season this did not happen. It appears to become more pronounced as they age. How does Jazz hold up?
I’ll keep you updated! This is a sort of experiment that will allow me to compare the two varieties and the straight species.
This post reminds me that I would like some little blue stem in my garden. I have plenty of green. I do like the sculptural look of the varying greens in the garden. Blooms are like the fancy lover that woos you with incredible gifts of color and scent just to leave you. While greens in the garden are the best kind of lover that is always there to cheer you and be your friend.
So one solution would be to have lots and lots of fancy lovers so you always have a couple being attentive.
Lots of shady plants in your garden along with the masses of flowers. It makes everything look so cool and moist seeing the shady spots. All the grasses are nice too.
We haven’t had rain for a while and things are starting to dry out.
Looking great, Jason, love the fern and Panicum of course. You seem to have regular rainfall looking at the lushness of your borders.By the way I’ve planted Panicum Cloud Nine this spring and look forward to seeing it develop. Fab grass
We have been having LOTS of rain until about a week ago. I have heard of Cloud Nine but haven’t grown it.
You have lots of nice lush greenery. I love your ferns. I am very fond of grasses too and I love Panicum. I love your nice healthy Monarda.
Downy mildew is on some of the Monarda fistulosa but the ‘Raspberry Wine’ is so clean.
I’ve always liked foliage as much as the flowers. You’ve got plenty of variety there!
Thanks!
I added a panicum ‘Shenandoah’ to my garden and I love it! You and I have many of the same plants. I do love your ‘Northwind’, too. Your sea oats are in a much sunnier spot than mine are. I just had to cut several large branches to give them the sun they need. Foliage is key in my shade garden since the flowers only bloom in spurts. Bowman’s root would do very well for you and has very pretty foliage.
I would like to try Bowman’s Root. I need to find a place where I can buy it.
Ferns and grasses are my favorite foliage….
I definitely agree.
You do have some lovely foliage, I did enjoy all those grasses. Good to see the lamppost border growing so well and so quickly!xxx
The Zinnias have really helped to fill in while the perennials are establishing.