Out in the Garden - The Far Meadow Berm

Over in the garden’s Far Meadow, the Programs Department has been hard at work making major improvements to the space.  Beautiful cedar chairs, boulders for scrambling, and a new mural on the children’s cottage are just some of the upgrades that have already been completed, with more to come soon.

Back in the spring, the Horticulture team helped to create a planting design for the large berm in the northeast corner of the meadow.  We wanted the area packed with color and full of whimsy.  We decided on a palette dominated by reds, oranges, and yellows using a mix of plants that will bloom all summer long.

You’ll find some classic annuals such as nasturtiums and marigolds mixed in amongst perennials that should reliably come back year after year.  We incorporated some of our favorites from the Pollinator Garden, such as ‘American Gold Rush’ black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia fulgida var. deamii) and ‘Jacob Cline’ bee balm (Monarda didyma).  Also mixed in are a few natives that we hope will naturalize and cover the hillside in time, such as red columbine (Aquilegia formosa) and California poppy (Eschscholzia californica).  One plant that has delighted me with its name and its vibrancy has been ‘Fiery Meadow Mama’ coneflower (Rudbeckia sp.).  The bicolor red and yellow flowers are gorgeous and fit perfectly with the hot color theme.

The plant that has single-handedly impressed me the most is the ‘Mammoth’ sunflower (Helianthus sp.). This plant is true to its name, as it is already towering well above me at nearly 10 feet and still growing. No flowers yet, but I can’t wait to see the show it puts on later this month!