We were in Bloomington on Sunday, and after brunching with Miki and Kevin, we toured their back yard. It's a shadowy hideaway with walkways and ponds and quiet, secret corners where one can rest and ponder and dream. Someone who owned the house in the past was gifted with imagination and created this lovely sanctuary. Their front yard is a study in contrasts, as it is brightly sunny and steeply sloping downward toward the sidewalk and the road. Miki spoke of wanting to replace the grass, which poses a danger to anyone mowing it, with a groundcover, perennials, or perhaps even making a series of terraces, as their neighbors have done. She requested information about groundcovers; thus, this series of pictures.
This first picture was meant as a caution rather than a suggestion. English Ivy is the chosen groundcover for many people, but I find it obnoxiously invasive and extremely difficult to eradicate.
This low growing plant appears to be, and acts like, a groundcover, though it spreads very slowly. I've entitled this picture "Mystery (weed?)" and encourage its growth simply because I find it to be a pretty addition to my front yard.
This may be creeping thyme... or some variety of thyme... The leaves are thyme-like and when crushed their scent approximates the smell of thyme.
This is a shade and moisture-loving groundcover called Ribbon Grass (or Dwarf Garters, which I find amusing). It's easy to take cuttings from existing stands, and it's hardy and slow to spread. I like the contrast of light and darker greens.
I found no explanation in my gardening books of why this is called Bishop's Weed. It grows about a foot tall and in the early summer it blooms with a stalk topped with what looks to me like a smaller version of Queen Anne's Lace. It can be invasive, but is also easily contained by planting it next to a foundation and surrounding it with rocks or some sort of edging. The leaves will start to get brown edges in dry, hot weather, but that doesn't harm the plant; in fact, a good deep watering will solve the problem.
This closely resembles what my books call Scotch Moss, other than the fact that my planting blooms yellow, while the books picture white blossoms. It grows thickly, forming hillocks as the stalks lay over on themselves. Partial shade and plenty of water are necessary for this groundcover, as with any variety of moss.
I believe this is the most popular groundcover around here, possibly because it is so hardy and will grow in sun
or shade. I found some growing by an old, deserted farmhouse and barn, and helped myself to some starts. It has many names, including Common Periwinkle, Vinca Minor and Creeping Myrtle. It blooms in the summer, (periwinkle blue, of course), and grows thickly enough to choke out any noxious weeds that try to compete.
My personal favorite is this groundcover, called Ajuga Reptans or Bugleweed. There is more than one variety, but this picture and the next show the deep green and purplish leaves that appeal to me. It spreads by runners and establishes itself wherever it finds compatible soil. It's also easy to start with rooted cuttings. It can tolerate some sun, but for optimum performance it prefers mostly shade.
...and that's your lesson for the day. There WILL be a test. :)
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