what to plant on the ground

[mamaofthree]

i want to plant some sort of ground cover and wildflowers in our front yard. we live in maine. the yard is haded somewhat by our two maple trees. any ideas?

thanks

h

[JamieCatheryn]

In Maine, right? Somewhere in Zones 3-5... For hardy perennials consider moss, violets, dianthus, mazus, and chamomile. If you don't mind it dieing in winter also irish moss or thyme.

[mamaofthree]

yes, maine. i think we are in zone 5.
can you walk around on thyme?

thanks

h

[JamieCatheryn]

Originally Posted by mamaofthree

can you walk around on thyme?

Yeah on some varieties, like creeping thyme and a I think wooly thyme.

[christinar]

I live in central Maine (zone 4), and have several shady spots in the yard. Flowers that bloom early in the spring (when they still get good sun because the leaves haven't grown in) do well for me - bleeding heart and columbine, for example. Foxglove and ajuga (groundcover) are also in that bed. Also be on the lookout for spring wildflowers that may volunteer in your yard. We get bloodroot, trillium, little purple violets, Jack in the Pulpits, trout lilies, and merrybells. I used this website to make id's: http://www.enature.com/home/. I also grow hostas, goat's beard, Coral Bells (heuchera) and astilbe in the part-shade. In another flower bed that is also part-shade, I have 'White Nancy' lamium as my groundcover, a perenniel geranium called 'Brookside', annual nicotians (flowering tobacco), and perenniel Bachelor's Button.

I've also heard good things about wild ginger as a groundcover (European or Canadian) but I haven't used it yet.

[mamaofthree]

oooh. thanks! great info.

h