Several years ago two master gardeners who have a passion for native plants recognized the potential for a wildflower garden in the wooded area below the manicured gardens of the arboretum. Bev West and Rosemary Wheeler
began clearing and exploring these woods. They discovered many wildflowers already there. Years before them, Tanglewood’s former manager, Gardner Gidley, and his wife, Margaret, had a vision of a wildflower garden in these same woods. They had cleared out honeysuckle and brush and planted wildflowers rescued from other places. When the Gidleys left Tanglewood, the woods once again became overgrown and uninviting.
Bev and Rosemary have put many hours of hard work reclaiming this area. They went on plant rescues and gave a new home to plants that would have been lost to construction. Invasive plants have been removed. Interesting logs and stumps are scattered throughout the forest floor like natural sculptures. Some protect fragile plants. They also propagated many wildflowers to put in this garden and to sell to raise funds for its maintenance. They are always willing to share their vast knowledge and experience with those eager to learn about our native plants. The wildflower garden is the fruit of labor, love, and vision.
Most woodland wildflowers bloom in late winter though spring. The tree canopy is open and sunlight penetrates to the forest floor. Everything that blooms needs some sunlight. So this is prime time for wildflowers in the woods. A slow stroll and careful attention is imperative. Many wildflowers are small and ephemeral. If you don’t look closely, you’ll walk right past them.
On a walk now, you will find the earliest blooming trillium, Little Sweet Betsy
(Trillium cuneatum). The three leaves are a mottled green with a sessile (stalkless) maroon flower. The pale blue flowers of Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica) and the delicate lavender flowers of Hepatica or Liverwort (Anemone americana) rise above the leaf mulch. Another delicate beauty is the Wood Anemone(Anemone quinquefolia). Its tiny white flowers and lacy foliage sway in the breeze. Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum) are almost hidden in the leaf mulch. The flower is yellow and nodding with strongly recurved sepals and petals. Ants scatter its seeds. The showiest blossom is the Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). It opens its large white flower to the warmth of the sun. On gray, overcast days the petals close up. Ants scatter its seed. The large clumps of leaves with blue tubular flowers are Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica).
As the days warm, several different kinds of Trillium will emerge. Deciduous ferns will send up their fiddleheads that unfurl into new fronds. Bluets, Iris, Solomon’s Seal, and Black Cohosh are just a few of the many wildflowers yet to appear. As you walk down the path, you come to a low area and then the path starts to climb slightly. The forest floor is more open and undulating. There is a spring in the woods. It is one of Bev’s favorite places in the garden. If you grew up playing in the woods, as I did, you will love this area.
The wildflower garden is a tranquil and beautiful spot in the arboretum. There are so many treasures to be discovered there. We will always be grateful to Bev West and Rosemary Wheeler for giving us ‘The Wildflower Garden’.
