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Shade Garden
Student volunteers rest after a long day at the CECMany of the gardens at the CEC are filled with plants that prefer sunny conditions. The Shade Garden is different. It is nestled between a giant pin oak and a tulip poplar on the far side of the parking lot from most of the gardens on this campus. It showcases native shrubs which thrive in shady conditions. All of these, except for spicebush, will also tolerate full or partial sun.
A flag stone patio—with fine mulch interspersed between the stones for good drainage—is located in the center of the garden. Medium-size native ironstone boulders are placed at the outer perimeter of the patio and add color and interest to the design. The boulders also serve as vandal-proof benches. The shrubs chosen for this location have wonderful wildlife benefits, for example, the berries of elderberry shrubs are eaten by 48 species of birds. Stop by in the fall or winter for the spectacular sight of the purple beautyberries. American beautyberries do best in partial sun.
If you look carefully in the area behind the garden, you may notice the rails from the old Baltimore-Annapolis rail line that ran through here many years ago. The shade garden is a nice spot to stop and enjoy the cool shade of the trees and examine shrubs you might like to use in shady areas around your home or community.
Zora Lathan designed the garden. The first stage of planting the garden and patio installation was done by Maryland Conservation Corps volunteers. Ricky Meyer and Marvin Redding helped finish the installation of the patio; and student volunteers and their teacher from Severn School, and volunteer members and friends of the CEC completed the garden on Make a Difference Day 2005.
Pictures:
Click on the thumbnail image below for a larger picture and description
Size: 1,000 square feet
Plant List:
- American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
- Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
- Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)
- Inkberry (Ilex glabra)
- Common Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
