A Walk in the Green Woodland
Monday, April 19, 2010 at 6:00AM Some people like to make a little garden out of life and walk down a path. Jean Anouilh
While the rest of my yard is splashed with voluptuous party colors, the woodland garden celebrates spring in a more sedate, but equally inspiring fashion. There is quiet joy here under the canopy of dogwood, maple, and oak trees. Hush now, and come with me on a walk in the green woodland.
We enter the garden, and we are washed in golden light as it streams across the mossy path.
Above is a view back toward the entrance to the woodland garden. Behind the rabbit is a variegated hydrangea and the ferny ground cover indigofera, with new growth glowing in the sunshine. In a few weeks it will have lovely pink blooms.
Hello rabbit. Here is the planting area with the Japanese maple 'Waterfall', along with spreading yew, hydrangea, hosta, heuchera, ferns, Jacobs ladder, and some azaleas which are not yet in bloom. There is also some newly planted pulmonaria with cottony pale green leaves. I am eager to see how it does. 
Autumn fern unfurls its copper fronds toward heaven. Blue ajuga blooms in front.
Here is a view of the planting area from the other end. I still have a lot of planting to do here.
Hosta seiboldiana 'Elegans' is coming up. This is a huge hosta with thick, blue-green leaves. It looks big already, but it will be triple this size in a few weeks.
Here are some close-ups of a few plants we can see.
Look at my new "squirrel crossing"! I ordered this little bridge, and it arrived in a gazillion pieces which I had to put together. Thanks to Lou's power drill with its screwdriver attachment, it wasn't too hard. I painted the rails my favorite color.
Looking back through the woodland garden, we can see the birdhouse in a trident maple tree. Good news! There are blue birds nesting in the bird house! Lets not disturb them. Our footsteps fall quietly on the soft path as we leave.
Thanks for joining me on my woodland walk, and may all your paths this week take you to pleasant places.
You might also like Seven Steps to Making a Woodland Garden.
Reader Comments (26)
I love your woodland garden! Thanks for the morning walk!
It's such a feast for the eyes whenever we can visit the woodland .... loved the bridge, loved the photo of the ferns and that caladium is just so striking! My favourite shot is the first one ... the woodland bathed in gold!
I love how you have made this woodland both controlled and wild at the same time. It's a beautiful spot. I'm looking forward to seeing it in the height of summer when it's all cool shade.
Your woodland garden is a beautiful place. How wonderful it must be to have such a place to wander everyday! Love that Japanese maple and hosta! Isn't it amazing how hosta grow to such a huge size every year from complete nothingness?
Dear Deborah, If only all the paths one walked along were as serenely beautiful as this one. The mossy paths, the understated planting, the dappled light and, now, birds having found a new home. This is idyllic and will, I am certain, be even more so as the heat of the summer bears down. And the 'squirrel bridge', what a charming crossing point and painted a most wonderful colour. And, by no means least, Indigofera.An absolute favourite of mine.
I love woodland gardens, the variations in green are so relaxing. Yours is so pretty, and I just love the last picture. How exciting that the bluebirds are nesting there!
A beautiful morning walk Deborah. I love the greens of a woodland garden. Congratulations on the bluebirds nesting in the bird house!
Wonderful, everything looks so lush... So much life - making me very excited!
It is beautiful! I love the bridge.
A green woodland next to my home is my idea of heaven. But, unfortunately, there is none, so I am happy to enjoy yours through your words and photos.
Thanks for the tour. Love the hosta and the rabbit. jim
Enjoyed that walk, and I love that quote - you have created such a wonderfully calm scene I can just imagine strolling down that mossy path and breathing in the foresty air.
Thanks for taking me along on your woodland walk. The paths under my virtual feet feel so good with all that moss. What a lovely walk!
Your woodland garden is so inspiring, Deb. One day we'll have our vines under control and our trees will grow freely too...
What a beautiful walk through your woodland garden! Thank you so much for sharing! Your garden is truly beautiful. I am considering a cranberry viburnum - worried about the beetle that is encroaching here but I am not really near the woods. Your jacob's ladder should do great! Oh, to have nesting blue birds - very envious!
Deborah - I have just finished breakfast here and came to read here and it was lovely taking the stroll around your woodland walk this morning. I really love this woodland area of yours and I think I am starting to get to know it well now. I can't wait to see it change again in another few weeks with more of its colourful blooms. Your little squirrel bridge is delightful and I hope you get many a red squirrel scampering over it. I can just imagine the sound of the bird song as took your stroll.
Love the combo of the autumn fern and ajuga, just gorgeous, I shall have to borrow it.
I love the color you painted the bridge rails!
What a beautiful garden you have there. I am trying to create a sort of woodland walk in what is at present just a scrubby part of our field and it all seems a long way off. I shall take inspiration from yours!
What a beautiful woodland walk. I love the way the golden sunlight lights up the moss.
Deborah, your garden is so serene and calming! I'm in the middle of a frantic week and when that first photo came up I let out a deep sigh - thank you for a lovely moment!
I would love to be walking down that path... fabulous post.
I love your garden, how fantastic to have your very own woodland walk.
I just love this garden walk. It is so natural looking too. The color you chose for the bridge is one my faves too. Perfection!
I love the little bridge going nowhere, in a place where no one will cross!
I love foxgloves Deb ! Yours are beautiful ! Gina