Lakeside's Secret Gardens

Lakeside, Ohio has many attractions: the beautiful shores of Lake Erie, fine food and entertainment, friendly people and quaint architecture.  Now it even has a very special park for nature lovers.  It is a botanical "step back in time" featuring the historic flowers of Marblehead.

I'll be leading two walks on Saturday, May 23rd at 3:00 and again at 4:00 pm if you would like to experience this woodland garden in person.  Walk/field trip details can be found here on Lakeside's website.

Woodland Phlox and Mayapple leaves bespeak the richness of this forest floor.

Spring's ephemeral flora is short-lived but spectacular. Like mini-rainbows, the fleeting colors of flowers dance in dappled light, scattered across rich forest floor.  This year the outstanding display of Woodland Phlox, Phlox divaricata is as remarkable as any I have ever seen.

Moss-covered Rock outcropping

 The rocky outcroppings, remnants from Marblehead's rich history of stone quarrying, have an enchanting, verdant covering of moss.  Even winters in this secret garden boast of green.

Large-flowered Trillium, Ohio's state wildflower.

 The last of the Trillium are waning, but their leaves will bear proof of their presence.  A grander wild flower is not known in Ohio than this, Trillium grandiflorum.

Appendaged Waterleaf is now stealing the show.

 The newcomer blooming this week is the Appendaged Waterleaf, Hydrophyllum appendiculatum. It should be putting on an excellent show by Saturday. You'll not want to miss the opportunity to see these unusual flowers and trees growing in a natural habitat near the shores of Lake Erie.

Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum

 We will even discuss some of the local non-native flora, like this winsome gem, Herb Robert.  Some say it works as an insect repellent!

Join our walk to learn more stories of our favorite native plants and gain a greater appreciation for the unique Carolinian Forest flora found in this park. This newly "un"developed park is found at the corner of Sixth Street and Popular Avenue just north of the beautiful Chautauqua Memorial Gardens.

There is also a plant sale being held in Lakeside earlier in the day, and you may sign-up for this field trip at the registration table at the Legacy House at 217 Walnut Street.

Lakeside Daisy, Tetraneuris herbaca

While you are in Lakeside, you'll want to visit another very special "secret" garden on the Lakefront path in Perry Park. The rarest flower in the United States grows on our shores.  The last of this year's Lakeside Daisy blooms should still be evident in the garden maintained especially for their benefit.

Leave a comment below if you'd like help signing up for Saturday's walk. I hope to see you there!

Wildflowers at Work

Not only are native plants lovely to look at, they can be work horses in the landscape. A few of the beauties in my yard are producing a view scape to rival anything produced by those big splashy foreign flowers that big-box stores sell.


Wild Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis

This plant is found wild throughout Ohio, from the shores of Lake Erie to the rocky outcroppings in Adams County. The delicate dangling flower is a show stopper in its native orange and yellow form, a favorite of the hummingbirds visiting the yard.

While I wouldn't mix-and-match pink and orange in my attire, nature has a fabulous way of showing off the most outrageous colors! A couple of years ago, while doing programs on wetland plants, I installed this new garden with an upland bird feeding station and a wetland/waterfall incorporated.

Those native flowers have really come into their own this year, creating a striking display. And the wetland? This years rain has been keeping it well filled; it also acts like a raingarden, regulating the water in my side yard.

Did you note the "mini" wild geraniums near the rock work? Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum is a favorite native from the northern portion of the state. Mine originally came from my yard in Lakeside, Ohio. I have also seen Herb Robert adorning the rock edges at the glacial grooves on Kelleys Island.

It is much like our larger native Wild Geranium, Geranium maculatum. However, these delicate flowers bloom well into summer. You'll continue to enjoy their fern shaped leaves right into fall, as they tinge with brilliant red.

So put those native plants to work in your landscape. And if you want to learn more about (or buy) native plants- sign up for the Midwest Native Plant Conference- go right here.