Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[oldhenlikesdogs]

8B
i thought they self seeded everywhere?

Not here in Wisconsin. We get too cold. Many annual seeds freeze. A few things will self seed like petunia, moss roses, calendula, love in the mist, poppies, to name a few.

 

[21hens-incharge]

All.

Cold and snow covered but still making plans.

Wondering what others interplant or plant around iris clumps......
The front yard has me thinking this morning.


My big clump of iris are around the light pole kind of in the garden corner behind the ugly little pot.
I am planning to add a flagstone path from approx the pick-up door curving to join flagstone to be added along the side of the driveway.
That will turn that corner into an island of sorts.

Anyone have ideas...suggestions to help me along?
That light post has a solar light on top that actually puts out a decent amount of light.

Oh and they say we are zone 5. I plant for zone 4 as we do get some harsh winters.

That area gets dappled shade most of the day due to the tree.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I always like monarda, or bee balm, and Echinacea. Pretty yard.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I always like monarda, or bee balm, and Echinacea. Pretty yard.

Thanks. It is another shot from Ducky visit day last year.
I have some coral bells....the lime green and some burgundy. I may try those along the edges. They are pretty well behaved.
I am trying some bee balm in our soil.....so far it is struggling. I like it but it doesn't like our soil. I think if I built a big pot for it I could grow it in better soil.

I notice I still have a bit of sweet woodruff by the pygmy barberry. It likes shade and CAN self seed like crazy here.
There were 2 dwarf evergreen trees that were here when I bought the house. They were dying and that is where I now have the barberry. The woodruff is a cute little plant. Mass plantings are rather pretty.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I haven't tried sweet woodruff. Are you looking for lower plants? Things like ground covers? I like the low growing sedum, the spread slowly.

 

[Melodychick]

You do have a nice yard! My gardens are a hodgepodge of flowering perennials and annuals. Though it’s pretty when things are blooming, I do need to start giving it some structure...
My native iris are planted with native phlox for spring blooms, then when they are finished, other natives start blooming to take their place. Things like echinacea, hibiscus and monarda.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Gorgeous flowers. I really miss green grass, and flowers. Seems like forever since I last saw them.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I haven't tried sweet woodruff. Are you looking for lower plants? Things like ground covers? I like the low growing sedum, the spread slowly.

Those iris grow to about 2' with blooms up to 3-4'. I think I will go with Colorado red steppers for my flagstone path.
I think I am looking for something low growing to surround the iris with. It does not need to be fragrant but having later flowers or earlier flowers would be nice. Drought tolerant would be a bonus.
At one point I had a lot of rock cress. It exceeded its life expectancy but never thrived here.
Maybe I need to view that light post like a mailbox and look at mailbox gardens....

Sweet Woodruff could become invasive in certain settings. It IS easy to mow down if it spreads into the grass. I want to put it between the steppers.

You do have a nice yard! My gardens are a hodgepodge of flowering perennials and annuals. Though it’s pretty when things are blooming, I do need to start giving it some structure...
My native iris are planted with native phlox for spring blooms, then when they are finished, other natives start blooming to take their place. Things like echinacea, hibiscus and monarda.
View attachment 2021526

That is very pretty! Those colors together are very easy on the eye.
My hubby is from southern Mississippi. He always wants that lush green feel to the yard.
He forgets that takes water. All the chemicals added to city water sure do have a negative impact on the plants.

 

[21hens-incharge]

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/woodruff/growing-sweet-woodruff.htm
Good info on sweet woodruff. I like the little plant.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It sounds nice. I used to have an herb garden, but took it out. You could grow herbs like thyme, or catmint is another hardy plant I like. Feverfew, and chamomile are other nice plants.