Sanguinaria canadensis
Bloodroot

 

I’ve spent a few weeks now in the outdoor rotation, my first work rotation here at Longwood.  It’s a rotation well-suited to my interests coming into this program.  Peirce’s Woods is a managed woodland showcasing native plants with a staff of gardeners who have interests in green practices and permaculture that match my own.    Longwood’s overall focus on display and constant change-out of plants (and even treehouses someday?) for ultimate impact is one with which I’m still coming to terms.  It’s the farmer in me that doesn’t understand how you can rip out productive plants you worked so hard to grow.  In any case,  Peirce’s Woods is a good place for me to start getting more familiar with Longwood and with many native plants. 

 

Kentucky Coffee Tree

 

Spring in the Woods is the best time of year, I’m certain of that.  All those little plants that carpet the forest floor and look rather boring the rest of the year are in full bloom: Bloodroot, Twin Leaf, Dutchman’s Breeches, Foam Flower, Alumroot, and even Skunk Cabbage.  The fiddleheads on the Ostrich Fern are pretty incredible too.  

 

Fiddlehead of the Ostrich Fern

 

The work I’ve been doing has been rather rewarding, aside from all the weeding (I know, I know…that’s to be expected).  In my first week, I helped plant at Kentucky Coffee Tree at the top of Peirce’s Park, right alongside all the immense historical hemlocks.  Also planted my first week were a couple oaks in the Woods and three dogwoods in containers on the Plaza.  During my second week, I worked around the Italian Water Garden more and helped plant 16 rodadendron and five red bud trees, all in preparation for a big press event around the big treehouse.  It was fulfilling to see a blank spot filled in with so many new plants that will be there for quite some time.   I’ll be sure to go back an snap an “after” shot when the red buds are in full bloom.  

 

 
Redbuds planted and then the rodadendrons

 

I’ve also been learning a good bit about bog plants from Kari, one of the gardener’s in this section.  Thanks in part to her enthusiasim, I’ll be trying my hand at my first water garden in the require container planting in my garden up on the Row.  I’m totally fascinated by pitcher plants and look forward to discovering other interesting bog plants. 

Two more weeks in this rotation will no doubt yeild more interesting experiences.  I’m not sure if any of them will top weeding in the Italian Water Garden with the fountains swirling around me.   Yes, I too was shocked that my favorite experience thus far at Longwood was one that involved weeding! 

 

Italian Water Gardens