Pining Away

The Scotch Pine Pom Pom (Pinus sylvestris) was planted today. Preparing the spot took some effort. First, I had to remove and relocate the Mikawa Yatsubusa Japanese Maple. I decided to plant it nearby in the corner of this bed. The day lilies I located here were nice looking when blooming earlier in the season, but once finished, they looked unkept. So, I dug them up, split them, planted them in buckets and will relocate them elsewhere. Once the day lilies were out, I had enough space to replant the Mikawa Yatsubusa Japanese Maple. 

 

Given its slow growth, there should be enough space here for it to grow. It also adds a bit more structure to the space. It looks less sparse.

Planting the Pom Pom Pine was another matter. The hole I dug was huge. It had to be big enough to accommodate the plant, but I also intended to amend the soil with five bags of treated soil and fertilizer. As a result, I had to dig deep and wide. 

Once dug, I had to move the tree. With the help of my wife, we struggled to lift and move the tree. It was extremely heavy. It was not coming out of the bucket, so I had to cut it away - too bad, it was a nice bucket.

Once we had it in the whole it was not easy to move about, so adjusting it took some time. I didn't want it to go in straight, but to angle it a bit to take advantage of some of the twists and turns in the trunk, of which there were not many. Although it looks a bit crooked, the look was intentional. Sukiya style trees in Japan often have trunks that are grown in such as fashion. I am hoping to emulate that as much as possible.

 

Once planted, I replaced all the bark chips and adjusted the finished look. I think it improves the spot - it now looks like a mature tree is present and fills in the area nicely.

The tree looks good when viewing it from the East Gate as well. 

Actually, the East Gate stroll area it at the height of its bloom and looks fantastic.

Overall, I am happy with the changes. Now only time will tell if I finally have the spot in the garden finished.

Lighting the Path

I really like the way the solar lights have improved the garden at night. Especially the way the Guanyin Statue lights up at night.

It took me a while to decide, but these Solar Black Outdoor Integrated LED Bollard Landscape Path Light at Home Depot seemed like a good fit. 

They are esthetically pleasing, illuminate the pathway in an interesting way and have preformed as advertised. They look sleek and modern and do not seem to kitschy.

So, I decided to invest in some more pathway lighting. First, I placed them within the gate along the walkway.

The light pattern at night is very nice.

 

Next, I placed additional lights outside the gate leading from the driveway to the central garden gate and sign.

As long as the solar collectors get plenty of sunlight, they last a long time and generate plenty of light.

Ferns Abound

I needed to fill in some spaces throughout the garden this year. I decided to use "Godzilla" Giant Japanese Painted Ferns (Athyrium 'Godzilla') instead of annuals or other sun dependent plants. These ferns can grow as much as 3' and require little maintenance. I have several in the garden already.

After planting one behind the Guan Yin statue earlier this summer, I planted two more, one near the garden bell, and the other near the inner corner of the East Gate.

The bell area has been a problem this year. As a result of growing trees in the woodlot and the explosive growth of the Bamboo along the see-through fence this year, the once sunny area under the bell is now much more shaded. 

In addition, the Iron Butterfly Narrow-Leaf Ironweed (Verononia lettermannii 'Iron Butterfly') to the left of the bell is a slow grower, but once underway in mid August, it gets large and crowds out anything else I have attempted to plant  near the bell. 

This fern (planted between the Iron Butterfly and the bell post) should be able to compete well - shade is its friend.

The area in the corner near the East Gate is in need of much work. 

Some of the smaller plants there died off, but the Forest Grass and the Hosta there are long term growers that have just become too large. I will be removing them later this summer. However, in the back along the fence, there is a very shady spot, perfect for one of the large ferns.

One More Time - Pom Pom Returns

I came across this Scotch Pine Pom Pom (Pinus sylvestris) at a local garden shop. It was large, but poorly maintained. The "pom poms" were no longer round and the needles had been allowed to grow out. 

I generally don't like these type of trees, but given how overgrown it had become, and the fact that it was on sale for 1/3rd the price, I decided to make the purchase. Also, given it's size, the price was a bargain. I also think I can work with this tree to train it to do what I want, maybe even play around with some cloud pruning a bit. The trunk is very straight, but I might be ale to simulate a Sukiya style with the branches.

My plan is to place it in the central viewing spot along the stroll garden. 

I have tried other plants here before, both a Boulevard Cypress Oriental Pompon and Red Select Japanese Maple. 

 

Neither of these did well due to the poor soil conditions. As a result, I made sure to buy five bags of soil with some fertilizer so that I can amend the soil before I plant the the new pine. The pine should do well here, it likes full sun and dry well drained soil.

Currently, there is a Mikawa Yatsubusa Japanese Maple planted in this location. 

It too has not done well. Large portions of its branches died off after the first year, and it has continued to grow slowly and poorly ever since. It will be coming out to make room for the pine. I will have to find a new home for it elsewhere on the property.

Guan Yin Reborn

I finally got around to reworking the back garage bed where I had removed the Mugo Pine and the Rheingold Arborvitea. 

Once I realigned the Guan Yin statue, I planted a "Godzilla" Giant Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium 'Godzilla') and a Heartleaf Brunnera (Brunnera macrophylla "Jack Frost'). In addition I moved two plants from the Dragon Spine Bed - Charlotte (Veronica Longifolia 'Charlotte') and an Astilbe. 

 

These pants seem open now, but in time they will all fill in this location. Especially the fern, which can grow up to 3' in height and width. Over time, I may have to relocate them as they grow. The shade that will be cast by the Spiraea thunbergil 'Mt Fuji' on the left end of the bed could over grow them.

I also added a solar spotlight to shine on Guan Yin in the evening. 

Just to the right, I planted a Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum') and a small Hosta where the Rheingold Arborvitea one resided. This too will fill in and may have to be moved next year as the Forest Grass and Bamboo on the either side continue to grow.

Overall, the bed looks less crowded than before and being able to see Guan Yin again adds to the interest of the garden.