2025 November 14 Soft Landing Planting Time!

Today was the day! The soft landing plants arrived last night and were ready to go in the trailer first thing in the morning. I couldn't have picked a better fall day. It was just chilly enough to keep the sweat away. 

The plan is laid out!

Some changes had to be made on the fly, but the overall goal of planting a dense native groundcover under the Black Locusts came into fruition. See the previous post for the planting plan and specific species.

Eeek! This is how they arrived!

Jane helped figure out a good spot for the new exotic anemone plants in the back, where hopefully they'll get the sun they need. We also spread the Golden Ragwort across the sidewalk edge, sine there was no Canada Anemone for that spot. Check out my previous post about the substitutions. My boss Paul also helped pop in the Spicebush shrubs along the back. We're hoping the nursery gave us a mix of male and female so the berries will eventually pop. At the end, Paul blew the leaves into the space to create a natural mulch layer. 

Selfie with Soft Landing!

A lot of people don't realize a shade garden can have pretty blooms. I am so excited to see this planting in action this summer. The blooms should be a lovely mix of yellows, blues and pinks spanning the spring to fall. Pollinators should always have a nectar source. 

It's supposed to naturally blend into the environment at this time of year.

Just wait until it blooms though!

The real test will be if these plants spread (they should!) and if they do become hosts to native insects. I will be watching to make sure leaves are eaten, stems are burrowed into, and the fireflies come out of the leaf mulch. 

Golden Ragwort Packera aurea next to the lovely stone we uncovered!

Aside from a surprising amount of trash, some other wonders were uncovered today. To the north, an old concrete path was unearthed. There was once a house on this property, so the path probably led to the front stoop. I'm wondering if the path could be incorporated into the plan. We did not plant anything in the mulch above the concrete, since it wouldn't grow anyway. The other thing we unearthed was a lovely large rock. I love a good rock in a planting!

Proud of the new Soft Landing!