Raise the Red Lantern

After installing the new Sapporo lantern, it became apparent that some type of planting was needed around its base.

The front porch bed is still a work in progress, and the large expanse of mulch leaves it looking sparse and in need of additional plantings.

I didn't want to use taller plants, such as ornamental grasses or flowering perennials, because they would compete with the lantern for attention. Instead, a low-growing ground cover seemed like the better choice.

The lantern's travertine finish pairs nicely with the brown tones of the walkway and echoes the color of the surrounding mulch. Because of that, I wanted to choose a plant that would complement the lantern rather than blend into it. My original plan was to use a green ground cover, but I was ultimately drawn to Voodoo Stonecrop (Sedum spurium 'Voodoo'). 

This perennial starts out with green foliage before maturing to a rich mahogany-red, a color that complements the brick exterior of the house.

Thriving in full sun and poor, well-drained soil, it grows only 4–6 inches tall. It will gradually spread to form a dense mat, but it can easily be trimmed back from the edge of the walkway whenever needed.

For now, I'm happy with the choice and look forward to seeing it fill in around the lantern, hopefully forming a complete circle by next season.

Ruby's Return

Having completed the pruning of the First Flame Maple, I turned my attention to the overcrowding caused by the adjacent Flame Grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Purpurascens').

The grass had simply grown too tall. I knew that was a possibility when I planted it, but I underestimated just how much of an issue it would become.

I originally planted the Flame Grass after removing a long-established Panicum virgatum 'Ruby Ribbons', which had occupied this space since before 2022. Over time, the Ruby Ribbons had gradually thinned out and also suffered repeated rabbit damage.

Rather than discard it, I transplanted what remained into a bucket, where I nursed it back to health while waiting for the right opportunity to replant it.

The first step was to remove the Flame Grass and relocate it to another area of the property. With the space reopened, I replanted the Ruby Ribbons in its original location.

Although the Ruby Ribbons is still on the small side, I am hopeful that, with plenty of sunlight and the freedom to spread its roots in the ground again, it will regain its vigor.

To give the Ruby Ribbons the best chance of success, I installed protective fencing to keep rabbits from browsing the new growth. I also applied a fresh layer of mulch, which greatly improved the appearance of the bed. With the taller grass gone, Secret Heart Island is once again visible and can be appreciated from the Viewing Garden.

In time, I hope the Ruby Ribbons' more modest 3-foot height will prove to be a better long-term companion for the First Flame Maple. 

As an added benefit, the plantings behind Secret Heart Island are now much more visible to visitors taking in the views from the Viewing Garden.

Chasing Clouds

I planted a First Flame Maple 'Iseli Introduction' (Acer × pseudosieboldianum) at the north end of the viewing garden in 2022. It was the first maple I had encountered that displayed such a remarkable progression of spring color, with its leaves emerging in brilliant shades of red before gradually transitioning through orange and yellow to green. The sequence seemed almost like the reverse of most Acer species, which are celebrated for their vibrant displays of autumn color. 

2022

Over the four years it has resided within the Secret Heart Island, it has thrived and provided countless opportunities to enjoy its ever-changing foliage. 

2023

2024

2025

2025

During that time, I pruned it only sparingly, allowing it to establish naturally and reveal its own growth habit.

It has grown substantially, but in doing so it developed a more shrub-like form than I had envisioned. As a result, it was becoming too bulky and beginning to change the character of the north end of the viewing garden.

Between the Snowmound Spirea hedge and the First Flame Maple, the surrounding ground-level plantings were becoming increasingly crowded and receiving less light. I began by completing the annual hard prune of the Snowmound Spirea before turning my attention to the maple.

I knew I needed to proceed carefully. The First Flame Maple should be pruned in a way that minimizes vigorous new growth, yet I was undertaking this work in the middle of summer. The advantage of summer pruning was that the fully leafed canopy made it much easier to evaluate the tree's structure and identify areas that had become congested. I was also careful not to remove more than 30 percent of the canopy.

With the goal of creating a cloud-pruned form, I worked slowly, looking for natural spaces where the canopy could be opened. I first removed dead wood and the small interior shoots that cluttered the branches and trunk. 

From there, I selectively created larger gaps between the "clouds" to improve light penetration into the center of the tree while revealing more of the trunk and branch structure.

I recognize that this approach will add another task to my annual pruning routine, but I believe the refined structure will enhance both the tree and the overall composition of the garden.

Hopefully, I didn't over-prune. The finished result is very close to what I had envisioned.

While working on the First Flame Maple, I also realized that the adjacent Flame Grass (Miscanthus sinensis 'Purpurascens') was simply the wrong plant in the wrong place. It had matured beyond its intended space and was already affecting the maple's growth along its east side. In addition, it was blocking the view of the other plantings when viewing the garden from the East Gate of the Zen Garden.

As a result, I plan to remove it and replace it with Panicum virgatum 'Ruby Ribbons', a grass that once occupied this area (see 2022 image at the top) and provided a richer splash of deep red tips throughout the growing season while remaining in better proportion to the surrounding plantings.

In the meantime, the First Flame Maple looks wonderful, I'm excited to watch next year's spring transformation of colors, one of the qualities that first drew me to this exceptional tree.

Post Production

After completing most of the front yard landscaping projects, it was finally time to add another long-planned feature: a Campania International Sapporo Lantern.

I first came across this lantern last year while browsing online. At $834.99, it was more than I was willing to spend. I searched for local retailers in hopes of avoiding shipping costs, but I had no luck finding one nearby.

As I planned the new front walkway, I knew I wanted to incorporate this lantern—or something similar—into the tight curve near the front steps. In fact, its intended location helped inspire the walkway's curving design. 

After months of admiring and thinking about the lantern, I finally decided to make the purchase. Fortunately, a major Fourth of July sale brought the price down to just $700, including shipping, making it much easier to justify.

The lantern is a substantial piece, constructed of cast stone with a stained travertine finish. It arrived as four separate pieces, with a combined weight of 207 pounds, in a single large package.

I was immediately drawn to its design. Although the "Sapporo" name is not based on a traditional Japanese lantern style of that name, I have seen lanterns with a similar form in Japanese gardens. What appealed to me most was its Arts and Crafts influence, which complements the architecture of our traditional brick Cape Cod home. The warm color also blends well with the tones of the new walkway and the brown decking of the recently built front porch.

While the front yard gardens are not technically part of the larger Asian-inspired gardens found elsewhere on the property, I wanted the front landscape to echo some of the same design elements. The lantern helps visually connect the front porch plantings with the newly established entryway to the Middle Gate, serving as an attractive focal point and creating a subtle transition between the different garden spaces.

Installing the lantern was surprisingly straightforward. I began by removing an existing fountain grass and excavating the area for an 8-inch-deep gravel base. After compacting the gravel, I used paver sand to create a perfectly level surface. Once the base was prepared, the four lantern sections were carefully stacked and aligned. Finally, I added a narrow ring of red gravel around the base to improve drainage and prevent mulch and soil from freezing against the cast stone during the winter months.

Overall, I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. I plan to plant a low-growing ground cover around the base to soften the transition into the surrounding bed, but even as it stands now, the lantern provides exactly the focal point I had envisioned for the front garden.

Spring Through the Garden

The following photographs capture some of the fleeting moments that made this spring such a remarkable season in the garden. Some showcase vibrant blossoms at their peak, while others reveal the subtle beauty of fresh foliage, morning light, and tender new growth. Together, they tell the story of a garden awakening and beginning another year of growth.

I hope these photographs inspire you to slow down, step outside, and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. Whether your garden spans several acres or consists of a few pots on a patio, spring offers the same promise: every new beginning starts with a single bud, and every garden rewards those who patiently nurture it.

Getting the Blues

The Reblooming Mountain Hydrangeas along the stroll garden have grown considerably since they were planted here in May 2025.

I have been trying to lower the soil pH to 5.5 or below by applying aluminum sulfate and sulfur. Although the blooms are attractive, they are not nearly as blue as they were when the shrubs were first planted. Achieving that rich blue color will likely require another season of soil amendments and patience.

I've also noticed that the plants have produced fewer flowers this year, so I'll need to reconsider my pruning schedule after the blooms have faded. I may have been pruning at the wrong time and inadvertently removing next season's flower buds.

Even so, I'm very pleased with their growth. They are now large enough to conceal the exposed concrete block foundation of the garage, which makes a tremendous difference in the appearance of the stroll garden.

Overall, this bed within the stroll garden has matured nicely and looks much more attractive than it did just a year ago.

Shuffling Shrubs

I finally decided where to relocate the damaged Pink Azalea (Azalea 'Blaauw's Pink'), which I planted last May near the back gate of the vegetable garden.

It had been severely browsed by deer, forcing me to dig it up and keep it in a bucket until I could find a new home for it.

Unfortunately, the garden suffered another setback when the Golden Dwarf Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Nana Lutea'), which I also planted last May, did not survive the winter. 

By spring, it was approximately 95% dead, most likely due to winter cold or insufficient moisture. It was disappointing, as I had hoped it would become a beautiful addition to the garden.

Its untimely demise left a significant empty space in the bed along the back of the garage—the Guanyin Bed. The azalea fits this location perfectly, but I have growing concerns about the bed as a whole. 

The nearby Crimson Pygmy Barberry (Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea 'Crimson Pygmy') and Summer Crush Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmacfive') are not receiving enough sunlight to perform their best. As a result, I plan to redesign the entire bed next year. I also want to remove the old cedar 4×4 landscape timbers that have bordered the bed for nearly 20 years.

That project will have to wait until next season, so for now the azalea will be relocated to this vacant spot. It has already demonstrated remarkable resilience by recovering from the deer damage. While it was growing in the bucket, it also benefited from a bright, sunny location. Planting it behind the garage may allow it to establish well, although the reduced sunlight could limit flowering next season. Even so, I have no better location available in the garden, so this will be its temporary home. 

We'll let it settle in and see how it performs.