Launched in 2008, North Bridge Magazine is a twice-yearly publication tailored to Acton, Carlisle, Concord, Lincoln, Sudbury & Wayland residents and edited to enrich the experience of living in six of Massachusetts' most desirable communities.
Issue link: http://northbridgemagazine.epubxp.com/i/62196
the green scene BY RUTH FURMAN en masse. The long lasting, attrac- tive foliage provides a handsome ground cover in dappled shade with adequate moisture. With all the yellow-flowering plants lighting up the landscape, a soothing character for the border is Brunnera macrophylla, Jack Frost, which produces a froth of azure blue flowers. Rising above a base of robust silver foliage, they positively gleam in the sunlight. A part-shade location with consis- tent moisture will keep this plant thriving, but make sure it is pro- tected from the afternoon sun. Another native and a classic early spring bloomer is Mertensia virginica, the Virginia Bluebell, with soft blue bell-shaped flowers held up in high clusters that sway Ephemeral Delights sk anyone which plants come to mind when spring is men- tioned, and chances are they will say either daffodils or for- sythia. But, there are many other perennials to herald the arrival of spring that are delightful additions to almost any garden. Let me share a few of my favorites with you. One of the earliest spring bloomers and a native of our eastern A US woodlands is Hepatica. There are two species to choose from: H. acutiloba or H. Americana. The former has leaves with pointy lobes while the latter are rounded. Before the leaves unfurl, and only on sunny days, the flowers open in a range of pastels — blue, purple, or pink — which are a delight to encounter when blooming 6 ★ north bridge magazine ★ SPRING/SUMMER 2012 elegantly in a spring breeze. By mid-summer the foliage will disap- pear, so plant it with something with that blooms later. I planted the late-spring blooming Galium odoratum, Sweet Woodruff, which over time spread through the bluebells resulting in a happy association. The woodruff makes a lovely ground cover with its sweetly-scented, star-shaped foliage and delicate white flowers, the scent reminiscent of freshly-mown hay. It was used as bedstraw in medieval times and strewn across floors to cover unpleasant odors. Sweet Woodruff is also used in potpourris and as a flavoring in German white wines. If you are pining for pink in the spring, consider the old-fash- ioned Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis. As its name suggests, it really is a spectacular plant. Its long arching stems, rising to three feet, are graced with dangling rosy-pink, heart-shaped flowers. If you want something a bit more modest in pink, then Dicentra D A NIEL76 / DREAMSTIME.C O M