Planting Under Trees - Part 7

 There is ivy (Hedera helix) growing up the trees. You can see it covering the trunks about six feet (2 m) off the ground. No, I haven't pruned it off the trunks in some odd frenzy of activity. This close-up, shows the pattern of ivy stems growing up the trunks a bit better. This decorative texturing is courtesy of my local deer herd, who munch the leaves off as far up as they can reach every winter. The ivy used to put out more leaves along these stems, but has basically given up - so the pattern remains.

 This photo, taken in May, from about the same spot, shows the Azaleas in bloom in the background. The ferns are almost out full, now. If the photo were clearer, you could see the Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the Pulpit) mixed in with them.

The ferns, May apples and Jacks are the primary residents. The ivy sort of snakes around at ground level, poking a tentative tendril out here and there and the ubiquitous Pulmonaria saccharata 'Mrs. Moon, seeds herself around. The clump of darker green at the edge of the bed is she.

 There are also some plants of Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) that I put here a several years ago and a Liriope or two who have put themselves here. Lily of the Valley is native to Europe, Asia and eastern North America; Liriope hales from China and Japan. Both are tough guys. Lily of the Valley is supposed to be a rampant spreader, but not in this bed. Only a few are brave enough to move a few inches out of their clump each year. But their sweetly fragrant flowers contribute to the delicious perfume that haunts the garden in May.

 However, it's the natives who predominate on this side of the bed.

 Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) are early risers, unfolding their green umbrellas from tightly furled buds springing from slowly creeping rhizomes just beneath the soil surface. The buds look just like a new compact umbrella that hasn't been opened yet (pretty nifty). As I said, these are native to my woods, from whence these came, and are rated hardy from USDA zones 3-9. Also known as American Mandrake, they are found in the forests of eastern and southern North America. In their preferred moist, humus rich soil, I understand they can get fairly rampant, but the dry, rooty soil and heavy competition here keep them in check. They have spread, but not all that fast. Mine are in deep shade, once the trees have leafed out, but they will grow in partial shade.