Our water gardens range from a newly-dug pond to shallow watering holes for the former residents (dairy cows) that we have repurposed for water lilies and other flowers, turtles, frogs and salamanders.
Native irises peak in June.
Clethra alnifolia, sweet pepperbush, perfumes the late summer air.
This shaded bench overlooks steeplebush, Spiraea tomentosa, and Joe-pye.
As the late afternoon sun fades, these waterlilies will close up tight for the night.
Helonias bullata, swamp pink,blooms very early providing nectar for insects just waking from a long winter’s nap.
Hibiscus moscheutos, marsh mallow, looks good enough to eat.
Cardinal flowers, Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal flowers are made for hummingbirds.
The lovely annual beggar-ticks, Bidens cernua, found a home at Turtle Pond. Now I just have to make sure it continues to self-sow.
Wild roses and wild raisin, Viburnum cassinoides, in bloom
Helonias bullata, swamp pink, provides sweet fragrance and nectar in early spring
Lizard’s tail, Saururus cernuus
A weeping tupelo, Nyssa sylvatica, and other shrubs color the autumn landscape
Blue flag, Iris versicolor comes in many color varieties
Lobelia cardinalis, cardinal flower
Sweet pepperbush, Clethra alnifolia
Iris versicolor, blue flag iris
Pickerelweed, Pontederia cordata
Swamp azaleas, Rhododendron viscosum, bloom from July to August
Our newest pond replaced a large stone pit that made it almost impossible to walk from the end of the double wall into the adjacent forest. Now we have a nice stone path around the edge of the pond that leads into the woods and more breeding habitat for frogs and salamanders..