how to make an umbrella from a plant

from my friend barry at sunshine farm & garden comes this wonderful shade loving 'american umbrella leaf' plant, Diphylleia cymosa. reminds me of a may apple, and rightfully so as they are related, but barry says the umbrella leaf is like a may apple on steroids, though! i love the idea that woodland creatures and birds take refuge under the umbrella-like leaves during rainstorms. the plant sounds easy to grow and propagate as the umbrella leaf is native to several southeastern states and apparently is hardy in all 50
(even hawaii?!): wow! 

sunday in the park

i went for a lovely walk in rock creek park with the mister and oto today. the green canopy is so high, made up of many very tall trees including tulip poplar  and sycamores. the ground was covered in a thick, cush-y emerald plant: marsh marigold.
marsh marigold, or Podophyllum peltatum, will be covered in yellow blooms in a few weeks, even in shady areas. it is a native flora in maryland, and also sold at nurseries and online as a quick, fast growing ground cover for difficult garden spots. it seems a little aggressive. best in bogging-type areas. i also saw mayapples in bloom.