It's a busy time in the garden lately, with frosts and freezes behind us, and planting and adjustments in full swing. In the midst of the busyness, I've been encouraging myself to pause just a bit to contemplate the garden and nature. I've been thinking about the beauty of plants that climb and vine and drape. They inspire art, design, and many other aspects of life.
One example (above) is the draping beauty of Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis), with its nodding, hanging blooms favored by hummingbirds.
The vining activity of Thicket Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta) helps to compete with nonnative invasives, filling crevices of planting beds at the base of shrubs and tall plants. And its foliage is beautiful from spring through October.
Clematis 'Nelly Moser' is another plant that was here when we moved in; I've maintained and encouraged it over the years. The flowers this time of year are exquisite, and its vines climb two trellises at the corners of our sunroom.
During a recent hike, we noticed this gigantic Riverbank Grape vine (Vitis riparia), forming an "S" around an Elm tree (Ulmus americana). This is not a cultivated grouping, but it is beautiful in its natural form.
The Climbing Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera) I planted as a small seedling several years ago is now up and over its arbor, and draping down the other side. Soon it will be covered in blooms!
Fuchsias of various species and varieties have been mainstays in my shady garden over the decades. This one, 'Dark Eyes,' has trailing buds and blooms that grace hanging baskets along the front porch. It's another favorite of hummingbirds.
While I've transplanted some Ostrich Ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris), I've never had to purchase them. They occur naturally in our back garden and provide draping beauty to frame the central planting bed.
Another plant that occurs naturally here: Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum). I find the arching habit of the foliage over the blooms and later the fruit to be magical and artful. My previous post shows our hillside from above, covered in Mayapple plants.
The vining activity of Thicket Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta) helps to compete with nonnative invasives, filling crevices of planting beds at the base of shrubs and tall plants. And its foliage is beautiful from spring through October.
Clematis 'Nelly Moser' is another plant that was here when we moved in; I've maintained and encouraged it over the years. The flowers this time of year are exquisite, and its vines climb two trellises at the corners of our sunroom.
During a recent hike, we noticed this gigantic Riverbank Grape vine (Vitis riparia), forming an "S" around an Elm tree (Ulmus americana). This is not a cultivated grouping, but it is beautiful in its natural form.
The Climbing Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera) I planted as a small seedling several years ago is now up and over its arbor, and draping down the other side. Soon it will be covered in blooms!
Fuchsias of various species and varieties have been mainstays in my shady garden over the decades. This one, 'Dark Eyes,' has trailing buds and blooms that grace hanging baskets along the front porch. It's another favorite of hummingbirds.
While I've transplanted some Ostrich Ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris), I've never had to purchase them. They occur naturally in our back garden and provide draping beauty to frame the central planting bed.
Another plant that occurs naturally here: Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum). I find the arching habit of the foliage over the blooms and later the fruit to be magical and artful. My previous post shows our hillside from above, covered in Mayapple plants.
This Shamrock plant (Oxalis vulcanicola 'Zinfandel') has been a potted mainstay in the garden during summer, and in the sunroom in winter. Its burgundy, draping stems and foliage, and yellow flowers, add color to our shady back lot.
These are just a few examples of the artful vining, draping, and trailing habits of garden plants. They inspire creativity, and support pollinators and people. Here's to a great growing season ahead!
