Ground cover
The autumn rains have begun and already leaves are changing colour. Before the plants go into their winter sleep, I want to pay tribute to the greens of summer. In particular, I love the ground covers in my garden. They create thick carpets of green and provide a backdrop for other garden colour.
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Periwinkle is my favourite ground cover. In early summer blue flowers dot the shiny green foliage. The plant grows well in our very shady yard and makes a good transition from lawn to woodland.
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The Creeping Jenny in our yard is a transplant from my grandfather’s farm, probably by way of my mom and dad’s property. The flowers are bright yellow and the leaves grow in pairs of gradually smaller size.
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Lily of the Valley grows along the paths in our yard. I love the white flowers and their gentle perfume. Although they are poisonous, the boiled leaves make a pretty grey dye.
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Soon the ground covers in our area will be layers of autumn leaves and then, blankets of fallen snow. My challenge for next year’s garden will be to find another low-growing cover plant to add to my collection. What are your favourite ground covers?
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Copyright Jane Tims 2015
nichepoetryandprose 
I have some Lily of the Valley and some Myrtle in my yard. The Mytle is my LEAST favorite ground cover. It almost became invasive and started taking over huge swathes of my garden–so lately I’ve been trying to get rid of it (with little luck).
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Sheryl
October 3, 2015 at 11:40 pm
Hi. Sounds like one to avoid. Each species takes its own space but when it overcomes other established plants, it is sometimes not good. I also have bugleweed which comes up in the lawn but makes a pretty alternative to grass. Nice to hear from you Sheryl. Jane
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jane tims
October 7, 2015 at 8:12 am
I have wild strawberries growing in one of my gardens. They attract birds, toads, and other small critters.
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Rebecca
September 30, 2015 at 2:47 pm
Hi Rebecca. Some of the wild ground covers would be great. Sweet wild strawberries in season! Also, cinquefoil comes to mind. Thanks! Jane
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jane tims
September 30, 2015 at 4:21 pm