Tales from a Northern Black Forest Garden

Our garden lies at 670m above sea-level on an open hillside which leads up to managed conifer forests. Below us the Forbach stream flows northwards toward Baiersbronn, where it joins the Murg - a river which flows into the Rhine.

Formed by glaciers, the steep valley cuts through a red sandstone plateau and there is a long history of mining and ironwork, thanks to the seams of iron, copper and silver ore found here. 

The geology and the climate determine the plants that grow here to a certain extent. In the garden, there are many of the typical species found here and I have been illustrating them to get to know them better. I have set them up in families here and this also helps me to compare family characteristics. Some of the illustrations are not wild plants but belong in the family, so I have added them anyway. 

Ferns

Pinaceae

Ranunculaceae

Betulaceae

Fagaceae

Amaranthaceae

Caryophyllaceae

Ericaceae

Primulaceae

Rosaceae

Fabaceae

Balsaminaceae

Solanaceae

Plantaginaceae

Veronicaceae

Dipsacaceae

Asteraceae

Araceae

Liliaceae

Asparagaceae

Amaryllidaceae

Orchidaceae