Texture

The early summer bloom is on the way. Lots of plants are budding out. The really big show in the Tall Flower Meadow is late August into September when the late season perennials bloom. That leaves a whole lot of plain green during the time of vegetation. More is needed to keep the garden interesting and carry it through the season.

More can come in the form of plant diversity and earlier bloom times.

More can come in the form of art and blooming trees and shrubs.

But in an ocean of green that leans towards tall perennials with simple, linear to oval leaves, texture is a very good tool to use to bring more interest to the garden. In the shade where bloom is harder to come by, texture is doubly important.

Just adding the different texture of liatris and lychnis into the matrix helps break up the monochromatic leaves of the aster family members that dominate.

Big bold texture is even better. Blooms are not required.

I have made a concerted effort to add more big foliage and texture to the garden and to encourage the natives that fit the description. The results are starting to show.

I suspect this sedge, a carex species most likely, is considered a weed to most. It has thin grass like leaves to about eighteen inches tall and gnarly looking spiny blooms. I like it. What a cool and unusual texture.

A quick search has me thinking it is Carex hystericina, Porcupine Sedge. Hysterical. It came free because I did not weed it out.

The native Goatsbeard, Aruncus dioicus, does double duty in the shade with big foliage of a different texture and a showy bloom. I need more.

When I look out on the rising Tall Flower Meadow it undulates in height and texture. The eye is engaged and pulled into the scene instead of passing over the top of a flat green plain to the far horizon. Texture in the garden does that.