Submitted by jeffpsmith on Wed, 05/28/2008 - 08:34
I suspect that the scary-sounding name of Sanguinaria canadensis, a member of the poppy family, is the main reason you don't see this shade perennial much in gardens or even in nurseries. I found it listed in some native plant guides as yet another candidate for my shady, moist woodlands area, and finally got some from an elderly greenhouse worker in Chicago who brought me some from her own garden.
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Tue, 05/27/2008 - 13:15
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The common blue violet (Viola sororia), also called dooryard violet, meadow violet, or sister violet, is overlooked by many gardeners these days, perhaps because it appears unwanted in lawns and gardens, but back in the day it was beloved, and it has been the state flower of Illinois for 100 years, following a 1907 contest in which it was selected by Illinois schoolchildren.
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Tue, 05/27/2008 - 12:59
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Shown here is False Solomon's-seal, Smilacina racemosa. This fellow has delicate alternate-leafed plants that do well in in partial-shade to shady areas, but tend to flop over if not using a tree for support. It develops pyramidal clusters of small blooms that turn into little round red berries a little smaller than BBs. This is a slow grower but hardy; my wife planted a specimen about 17 years ago in a difficult shady area and it returns every spring.
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Tue, 05/27/2008 - 12:46
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Jacob's-ladder (Polemonium reptans) is another perennial native to Illinois that met my requirements of being able to handle a fair amount of shade and moisture, and it's flourished in a spot where all its predecessors died. A member of the phlox family, featured in the Botanic Gardens Native Plant Garden, and approved for Illinois highway planting by the Federal Highway Administration, it produces handsome little bushlike sprays of up to 1-1/2' tall, with light blue flowers in mid spring and beyond.
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Tue, 05/27/2008 - 12:29
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Tiarella cordifolia, or Foamflower (sometimes "Allegheny foamflower"), is a groundcover perennial native to upper North America (endangered in Wisconsin) that has been cultivated and hybridized. A popular variation, shown here, is the "Brandywine" which features darker, even burgundy veining amidst bright green grapevine-shaped leaves with an interesting texture. This native was able to thrive in a dark, shady area I'd had trouble getting anything to grow, and looks great along a path or pond edge.
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Tue, 05/27/2008 - 12:08
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American bittersweet, Celastrus Scandens, is a native woody-stemmed perennial vine with short, softly ovalled, slightly toothed, often shiny leaves that taper to a point. Often confused with Bittersweet Nightshade Solanum dulcamara, or with Oriental Bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculata, an invasive, Asian variety which has rounder leaves and is starting to crowd out the native variety in many American forests.
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Tue, 05/27/2008 - 08:05
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Mertensia virginica, commonly known as Virgnia bluebells, is a native woodland perennial found in most Illinois counties, including Cook County, and is featured in the Botanic Gardens Native Plant Garden. It pops up through the silla in mid-spring, and forms spreading bouquet-like plants of up to 2-1/2' tall with delicate lavender-blue flowers that bloom for up to a month.
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Fri, 05/09/2008 - 18:37
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Trees in spring flower at Independence Park on Central Street between Hartrey and Prairie. Popular three seasons of the year with kids, parents, and pedestrians, the park is slated for substantial improvements under the Central Street Master Plan.
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Tue, 02/26/2008 - 11:02
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At least 10 different species of warm-blooded animals frequent our neighborhood, including this fine specimen I spotted waddling around this winter during a brief thaw. Who is it? Maybe a CSNA board member playing possum on this website....
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Mon, 02/11/2008 - 11:18
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This picture, allegedly of Harrison St. looking east from Hartrey, was submitted to us by a member who claims that at one time, this region had streets with visible asphalt, trees full of leaves, an outside air temperature fit for human life, and a large yellow disc in the sky that provided warmth and light. We at CSNA think this member must have spent too much time at a Schaefer's wine tasting, because here on Planet Frozenslush it is hard to imagine anything ever existing besides shades of gray, from ground to sky.
I suspect that the scary-sounding name of Sanguinaria canadensis, a member of the poppy family, is the main reason you don't see this shade perennial much in gardens or even in nurseries. I found it listed in some native plant guides as yet another candidate for my shady, moist woodlands area, and finally got some from an elderly greenhouse worker in Chicago who brought me some from her own garden.
