Early May is a frustrating time if you are a native plant gardener on Cape Cod. The weather is quite chilly – temperatures are hovering around 50, and the winds are still from the north and northwest, usually 10-12 mph. There is a lot of work to do in the garden, including finishing the cutbacks, the initial round of weeding to prepare garden beds, and getting the planting started. But there are few rewards yet; there is lots of color, but it’s all the non-native daffodils, forsythia, and cherries in bloom.
But in my work in the garden, I did find things among my native plants – all little things – to catch my eye and make me glad. Take a look.
This is arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum), emerging as a new volunteer in one of my woodland garden beds. I’m not sure why the leaves are edged with red – perhaps from cold weather?The lawn is filled with tiny, tiny flowers. From the left: common cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis), a native; thyme-leafed speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia), from Europe; and field madder (Sherardia arvensis), from Europe and Asia.While they are not tiny, the mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) has emerged with its striking leaves, and small white flowers will bloom underneath the leaves in a couple of weeks. I am thrilled that the patch has spread even more this year! While cleaning out a bed of sweet pepperbush and Christmas fern, I found 3 little surprises. On the left is low-bush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolia), which I had planted several years ago but thought it had died. On the right are two tiny tree seedlings, about 3″ tall = red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) and black cherry (Prunus serotina). I wouldn’t mind another tree in that spot, so I left them in place.Two years ago, I was given several small elderberry plants (Sambucus canadensis), but the rabbits enjoyed them, and I thought they were gone. But all three emerged this year, and I plan to protect them until they get a good bit larger.
thanks for the update, Cathy! I also have some Mayapple coming up this year for this first time. Some nice surprises this spring, but also more native plant failures. Maybe just wait— some natives take a few seasons to show up!
Goldenrod Garden 
Love the photo of the arrowroot viburnum. So interesting!
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thanks for the update, Cathy! I also have some Mayapple coming up this year for this first time. Some nice surprises this spring, but also more native plant failures. Maybe just wait— some natives take a few seasons to show up!
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