GPOD common Cherry Ong (Cherry’s Containers Day 1 and A Clear Slate Remodeled) is inviting us again to her backyard in Richmond, British Columbia.
It’s a bit chilly right here nonetheless proper now, so half of my annuals are saved within the storage (sadly). Hope it warms up, however we’ve had some years the place the summer time stayed cool and subsequently was disappointing for summer time gardening with annuals. Fingers crossed that gained’t be the case this 12 months, as I’ve crossed over to the opposite aspect and planted dahlias and a rose for the primary time ever. (Want me luck!).
Thought I’d ship some spring photographs of the Fern Fairway. I despatched some photographs of this strip in 2019 (The Fern Fairway).
The Fern Fairway is a really slender aspect yard, about 50 ft lengthy and three ft throughout, with solely 14 inches of gravel for planting, or extra precisely, sitting containers on. I developed this aspect backyard out of desperation for gardening house! Given the scale, the world stays difficult to {photograph}.
I’ve made some expensive errors planting on this full shade hall—specifically, the demise of considered one of my full moon maples (Acer japonicum, Zones 5–7). I located them in the midst of the hall extra for aesthetics relatively than consideration of their wants, and so they absolutely confirmed their distress in 2020. Happily, the opposite has bounced again after relocation and repotting. I’ve two Japanese maples welcoming guests to the strip on the north (Acer palmatum ‘Katsura’, Zones 5–9) and the south ends (Acer palmatum ‘Ariadne’).
The center of the strip has principally shorter vegetation now given the restricted lighting, and I proceed to review how the perennials behave as a way to present them with the perfect rising situations.
A hand-me-down hosta recognized as Hosta ‘Fireplace and Ice’ (Zones 3–9) by my social media gardening buddies and tatting fern (Athyrium filix-femina ‘Frizelliae’, Zones 4–8) are among the many earlier spring risers.
I’ve had this big tassel fern (Polystichum polyblepharum, Zones 5–8) rising in a landscaper pot for a few years, and it appears to be blissful.
Acer palmatum ‘Ariadne’ (Zones 5–9) on the south finish of the Fern Fairway.
A painted fern to like: Athyrium niponicum ‘Regal Pink’ (Zones 4–9)
A contented resident of the Fern Fairway even earlier than it was born: Athyrium ‘Ghost’ (Zones 3–8). The glass mushroom is the gorgeous work of Andrew Holmberg, a Portland glass artist. I lastly met him at Sorticulture in Everett, Washington, one 12 months and obtained to see all his superb backyard glass.
Criss-cross fern, or Athyrium filix-femina Dre’s Dagger (Zones 4–8) is without doubt one of the coolest ferns ever! The shrub behind it’s Leucothoe fontanesiana (Zones 5–8). I’ve discovered that it performs nicely underneath this full-shade backyard, although it will undoubtedly be extra lovely in a sunny scenario. From a shade standpoint, dotting the strip with gold-foliaged decorative grass helps to brighten the world and acts as a pleasant foil for all the opposite foliage. I’m grateful for all of the divisions from my Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ (Zones 5–9), Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’ (Zones 5–8), and Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’ (Zones 5–9). I’ve tried to include Carex siderosticha ‘Banana Boat’ (Zones 5–9), however it’s a gradual grower.
A more recent and extra thrilling addition to the strip is Farfugium japonicum ‘Shishi Botan’ (Zones 7–10). It made it by winter, so hopefully it’ll be a cheerful resident within the house for a few years to come back.
Nature knits the perfect sweater! I’ll undoubtedly be shifting this gentle protect fern (Polystichum setiferum ‘Plumosomultilobum’, Zones 6–8) to a brighter location this 12 months.
Feathery is fabulous! Free can be fabulous! This Adiantum pedatum (Zones 3–8) is a division from the backyard.
Corrugation is a ravishing factor! This Hosta sieboldiana ‘Large Daddy’ (Zones 3–9) was once a resident within the again backyard. It was doing nicely and out of the blue declined. I dug it out and transferred it to a container. It appears to have bounced again and now could be a more moderen resident of the Fern Fairway. It makes a fantastic foil for the tassels of the ‘Dre’s Dagger’.
It’s troublesome to {photograph} the lengthy, slender house of the Fern Fairway.
One of many advantages of getting a protected aspect backyard is storing borderline hardy perennials through the winter. It appears this crinodendron (Crinodendron hookerianum, Zones 9–11) is blissful the place it’s. I do attempt to transfer it to a sunnier locale throughout spring to point out off its flowers and to permit the plant to get some solar.
If you wish to see extra of Cherry’s lovely backyard, try her instagram: @cherry.ong
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