Gardens are full of surprises. The best are when you stumble upon a plant or a combination that you chose to grace your garden - something you had no hand in.
I have no memory of ever planting Dutchmen's Britches (Dicentra cucullaria), but one year, there they were. A few weeks later and they had disappeared again. Dutchmen's Britches belong to a group of plants known as spring ephemerals. They appear for a short time, early in the season, and then go dormant for the summer. Most are woodland plants that take advantage of the moist spring soil and the sunlight that's available before the trees leaf out. They can require a bit of patience, especially getting them established, but they are charming, And they bloom when blooms are sorely needed.
Photo: © Marie Iannotti
Comments