Landscape Vision Guide
The Woodland Triangle
A property in Ontario
Cottage Woodland Garden — Naturalistic Native Planting · Vision Guide — June 2025
Before 
After Installation of the Main Triangle planting is complete. All 422 plants across 14 species are in the ground. The Pagoda Dogwood is the one exception — it will be supplied and planted in August 2026.
Planting areas: Main Triangle
The design vision for this area centres on creating a layered woodland garden that takes advantage of the natural topography. The left side, where stumps create a slightly raised area, offers prime real estate for specimen plantings between existing larger trees. The right side will feature taller plants with spring flowers, positioned to be visible from the cottage windows. Throughout the space, mid-height understory shrubs with spring flowers and attractive fall foliage will provide structure, while a dense layer of perennials and ground covers fills in beneath.
The planting builds in three layers. A groundcover matrix of sedges (Wood Sedge and Graceful Sedge) and shade-tolerant ground layer plants — Bunchberry, Canada Violet, Wintergreen, and Bottlebrush Grass — provides 50–70% coverage and the coherent visual base essential for successful design. A structural layer of Alternate-leaved Dogwood, Beaked Hazel, and Bush Honeysuckle provides year-round presence and architectural interest. A vignette layer of forbs — Wild Blue Phlox, Early Meadowrue, Heart-leaved Aster, Zig-Zag Goldenrod, Christmas Fern — carries seasonal interest from spring ephemerals through late-season bloom.
Approximately 422 plants will be installed across the 400 square foot bed, planted densely in small container sizes for cost-effective establishment and quick ground coverage. All species are shade-tolerant and chosen to work with the site's woodland character rather than against it.
Click any plant to see its photo, rationale, and growing details.
Installation
June 6, 2026
