My Woodland in April

Ah! Woodlands and bluebells, how English can you get? Nothing nicer than a bluebell wood, and to have one of your own - Wow!

They re spreading nicely now too. The Arisaema is amazing - never seen one of those before!

Thanks Honeysuckle, it's very peaceful in there.
Stera, it's a funny thing isn't it, I have other varieties grown from seed via Amy and Lori which aren't showing through the earth yet. I only planted this last March.

Glad the symphytum has settled in. Did I send you some Cardamine bulbifera a few years back? I have lots doing very well if you would like some bulbils later in the season.

That Arisaema sikokianum is one for me to look out for, I have the small one called mousetail A.proboscideum as well as the tall A speciosum that is just starting to show its nose.

Most of the bluebells are in my front garden and are the Spanish ones, though there is a small clump of natives in the back garden.

The Epimedium is looking good too.

That Arisaema is so exotic ... they're fascinating plants.
Your woodland efforts have really paid off, DA. So beautiful. I'm waiting for the snow to go away completely. There's a lot of flooding this spring, all across the province and today (between 8 a.m and 11:45 a.m) it snowed! The previous day was just a perfect spring day and it was actually warm! ...but the wind changed to out of the north and we're back in winter again. everything was popping and the sun so warm that I uncovered some of my recently planted bulbs and they're just getting their little noses above ground...the snow hasn't stayed..thank goodness. I may have some tulip pics to share ...at last. It's such a blast to see your lovely woodland. Way to go! x

You have done such a beautiful thing by creating a new woodland Dawn. Its beautiful. My dream!

Hi Seaburn, I'm really pleased with the Symphytum, it's very happy.
Yes you kindly sent me the Cardamine bulbifera last year, it's doing fine. I have the mouse tail, just a few leaves at the mo and I grew A. triphyllum from Lori's seed years ago. This A sikokianum was from Edrom Nurseries, last March, so pleased with it.
I think my bluebells are the result of native and Spanish hybridised, there is no perfume but I'm ok with them.

Thank you Karen, it's slowly progressing, so much planted that you can't see, I planted alot of nice ferns recently, you suggested they'd look good :-)

Hi Lori, I like the Arisaema, I think of you when A tryphyllum appears :-). How do you know when the seeds are ready?
Oh dear, more snow! It's got to warm up soon for you. Woodlands are special, aren't they :-)

the spathe is covered in bright red berry-like seeds... I'm not sure, but I think, they may need stratification in the cold months... mentioned it to Amy and suggested a short stay in the refrigerator before planting. they eventually dry out and fall into the leaf litter..where, if they're not eaten by hungry mice or chipmunks they put down a root which becomes an young plant and can produce a JITP the first season after planting. no waiting around for 6 or 7 years like the trilliums.

Thanks Lori, so you collect when they’re beginning to fall as ripe then I guess, pop them in the fridge and all good.

Beautiful Dawn, very romantic English woodland! Bluebells look really magical!

pretty much, Dawn. perhaps let them dry out a bit before cooling them. I don't have to use seeds now, ... I can find them starting on their own and I'm sure with one or two established plants, you'll find it's the same in your forest. birds and ground squirrels will help their spread.
I have bluebells from Amy that have been slowly taking hold too. The arisaema seem to like the fern forest and also don't mind wet feet in spring. In the one little valley I have arisaemas, wild orchids, and ferns all there by their own volition. It's such a kick!

Thank you Kate :-)
Lori I would love to see your Forest it sounds awesome! Thanks for the seed info :)

Beautiful!

Love your wood, Silver Birch aren't they? As everyone says the Arisaema is spectacular.

Simply stunning, my OHs dream was to own a woodland, I nearly did, but thats another story for another time!!

Thanks Eirlys.
Siris, alot of silver birch but a mix of native - oak, beech, alder, hazel.
Not native jinks but I have a couple of giant red woods haha.
Oh Dotty, strange how life twists and turns, I have lots of woodlanders that you just can't see yet.

How old is the wood now Dawn? Can remember how many trees you planted? And how long it took?

Just wondering - with all those silver birch you might get those lovely red toadstools with white spots (fly agarics)
Just the thing for the fairies to sit under...

Stera, We planted the trees in 2002, so 17 years ago, tiny whips in bunches of 25, it was a paddock, the first few summers the grass was as high as the trees, I thought they’d never grow and never dreamt the grass would finally be replaced with a woodland floor, I think there were 1,500. It was mid winter, we had Robert the Bluebell Arboretum owner to advise on planting, he suggested chess board fashion about 2 metres apart, OH did a ‘H’ cut and I popped a whip in and we trod them in. The pines were in pots, that’s all, probably took us 2 days.

Wonderful ! Spring is the best season I think. I love to walk through woods ...

Totally agree Hywel, my favourite seasons - Spring first, then Autumn, then summer and lastly winter.

Same as me lol :)