Proposed Plan:

Plant a low maintenance woodland garden.  Planting would be in large drifts and would concentrate but not be exclusive to native plants.  The center area would consist of "rooms" that would have minimal seating areas.  Initial thoughts are to use tree stumps for individual seats with up to three in a room.  The perennial plantings in each room would vary however the shrubs and large plants would be consistent to ensure a cohesive feel to the garden.  A pathway would be installed around the rooms with additional large groups of plantings around the outer edge of the pathway.  Special care will be given to provide interest year round.  Our intent is to finish one area at a time to avoid an "unfinished" look.

Purpose/Benefits:

Because we plan to use mostly native plants, the beds in the woodland garden should not require regular watering after the first year of becoming established.  Since we plan to use large drifts of plants, most weeds should be shaded/squeezed out.  Compost mulch will be added in spring and late fall and will help to control weeds. Additionally, because of the large drifts, it will be easy to identify weeds.  The woodland garden will provide a beautiful and peaceful place for people within the community to relax.

Proposed Plant List for Initial Bed:

Iris cristata around tree trunks
Toadlily interspersed with Solomon's Seal
Hellebores
Obedient Plant
Autumn Fern
Oakleaf Hydrangea or Bottlebrush Buckeye for "walls"

Proposed Plants for Additional Beds:

(We would consult with the appropriate group being adding any new selections.)
Bloodroot Meadow Rue Perennial Begonia
Lily of the Valley Trout Lily Dogtooth Violets
Aconite Violets (natives) Bleeding Hearts
Perennial Geraniums Barrenwort Bellwort
Trillium Species Tulips/Daffodils Maidenhair Fern
Sensitive Fern Christmas Fern American Beauty Berry
Dogwood Bush Rhodendron Azalea
Brunnera Rue Anemone Wild Ginger
May Apples Virginia Blue Bells Toothwort
Dutchman’s Breeches Gentian Hepatica
Twin-leaf Lobelias Twin flower
Mitella diphylla Bee Balms Native pachysandra
Blue Star Lady Fern Rattlesnake Fern
Baneberry Green and Gold Jack-in-the-pulpit
Cinnamon Fern Royal Fern Turtlehead
Galax aphylla Bugbane Redbuds
Sedum nevii Sedum ternatum Shortia galacifolia
False Solomon’s Seal Witch Hazel Spice Bush
Mountain Laurel Dutchman’s Pipe Purple Virginia Bower