Ground covers - A step in the right direction

Do you remember when you were growing up and playing baseball, wiffle ball, soccer or football in your yard at home? The game would always begin with these instructions from Mom, "You can play ball in the yard, but make sure it doesn't get into my flower bed."

Even if you and your buddies had the best intentions, and I'm sure you did, invariably the ball would somehow end up in Mom's flowerbed. You were immediately confronted with a dilemma. If you left the ball there, Mom would eventually find the ball in the bed and you would get into trouble. Besides, that would be the end of the game for the day.

You knew that if you walked through the flowers to get the ball Mom would find out because you left telltale tracks. Even if you tiptoed, Mom's sharp eye was like that of a pioneer scout. She could tell by the track who made it, when it was made and why it was made.

If you broke some flowers while retrieving the ball, you could pick them plus a few more and take the bouquet to Mom and tell her how much you loved her. Of course Mom could see right through that, and you would probably get your fanny tanned or have to do some detestable chores or end up imprisoned in your room while all of your buddies were at the pool.

I have good news for all moms who have both flowerbeds and budding sports stars who think the front yard is just right for ball practice. There is a group of plants sold under the name "stepables" that can withstand some foot traffic -- they can be walked on without being harmed.

In addition to withstanding foot traffic, some "stepables" emit fragrant odors when bruised. Most "stepables" are ground covers that spread rapidly yet are not invasive. They make great additions to rock gardens and fill in nicely between patio and walkway pavers.

Here are a few:

Sedum hispanicum "Minus", or stonecrop, has minute leaves. At a distance this plant resembles moss until it is covered with masses of tiny pink flowers in spring. This full sun loving plant is a great addition to rock walls and rock gardens. It tolerates light foot traffic.

Labrador violet, Viola labradorica, is a shade to full sun loving ground cover that tolerates moderate foot traffic. It spreads rapidly and surprises you with masses of small lilac flowers in the spring. Use it under trees, in flower beds, under woodland bulb gardens, or among stone or pavers in a shaded walkway.

Trifolium repens "Atropurpureum," or bronze Dutch clover, has green foliage tinged in the middle with purple. Its white blooms cover the foliage throughout the summer. This rapidly spreading plant does best in full sun to part shade. Since it tolerates moderate foot traffic in can be used not only as a ground cover in flowerbeds, but also between rocks and pavers that are used occasionally for foot traffic.

Woolly thyme, Thymus praecox "Pseudolanuginosus," is a ground cover with dusty gray foliage and pink flowers that dazzle you in the summer. Use woolly thyme between pavers and steppers or other areas where the soils stay hot and dry. It likes full sun to part shade.

A cousin to woolly thyme is white creeping thyme, Thymus serphyllum var. albus. This plant has extremely small leaves that form a mat of shiny green foliage which serves as a backdrop for summer-blooming, white flowers. Bruise this plant and smell a delightful aroma. This plant tolerates moderate foot traffic, so use it where you will occasionally step on it in order to tickle your nose.

Another "stepable" is creeping jenny, Lysimachia nummularia. This groundcover is extremely useful because it will grow in either wet or dry areas. It likes partial to full shade. Its bright green foliage provides a splendid backdrop for bright yellow flowers in the summer.

I have listed just a few of the plants in the "stepable" group. I'm sure that if you don't like the ones that I have described, you can find one in this group that you will like. Remember Mom, take it easy on your kids. After all, your job is really growing kids, not flowers. You can grow flowers when they are gone.

Send your gardening and landscape questions to Paul Schnare at P.O. Box 699, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699 or by e-mail to news@semissourian. com.