A Little Gold

I switch out the Hosta I had in the two large pots with Marigolds. 

 

I haven't done this in a number of years, but I'm glad I did. They add some nice fall color to the garden.

Post Return

Throughout the summer I  enjoyed the view of the gazebo with the plants near the outer corner post. The Soft Touch Japanese Holly (Ilex crenate 'Soft Touch') I planted is doing well. 

However, the dwarf lilies I placed on either side looked poor after they stopped flowering. So, I decided to dig them out and relocate them elsewhere on the property.

In their place, I planted two Arborvitae Fire Chief (Thuja occidentalis 'Congabe'). 

This shrub can tolerate light and shade. It should grow between 3-5 feet - they may end up growing too large for where I placed them. I can try to keep them trimmed, but I will probably have to move them at a latter date. 

 

I willing to see how it goes, then make my decision next year. In the meantime they look good next to the Holly.

Two's a Crowd

Back in 2010, I planted a Hosta Blue Cadet (Funkia, Plantain Lily) and a White-Variegrated Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Albo Striata’) in the inside corner next to the West Gate leading out to the Stroll Garden.

Both plants did remarkably well over the years and filled the area in to the point you could not even see the rocks that were being used as edging.

 

Unfortunately, they did so well that they started to become too large for the location. Both plants were starting to crowd each other out. They both needed room to grow and expand. I also did not want to split either plant. So, reluctantly, I decided to take both plants out and relocate them. 

To get started, I had to decide where they would go. I decided to move the Japanese Forest Grass to the Dragon Spine bed next the red Japanese Maple. However, to do so, I would have to move two Azaleas and some other plants. 

The Azaleas were doing fine, but I was concerned that they would ultimately get eaten by deer - the deer have been frequently visiting the edge of the bed. Both plants were donated to my neighbors who were re-landscaping part of their back yard. I simply had nowhere else to put them.

Once I had a hole dug for the Forest Grass, it was just a matter of moving the grass to its new location. 

It should be noted that it was a very big plant and very heavy. After much effort, it was planted with little damage. Next year it should fill in nicely and will have some room to grow even bigger over the next few years.

I also didn't want to split the Hosta Blue Cadet. It was one of my largest Hosta and was a beautiful plant. Unfortunately, I had nowhere in the garden in which to relocate a plant of such size. So, I placed it out in the front yard area, outside the garden. In the future I may choose to move it once again.

With the corner now open and clear, I needed to plant something to fill in the area. Not wanting to buy new plants, I decided to relocate some other plants from elsewhere. Since I had just dug up the Birch Leaf Spirea (Spiraea betulifolia 'Tor Gold') I had planted last year in the Dragon's Spine, I decided to relocate it to where the Hosta Blue Cadet had once been. It's looking a bit sickly, so I will have to see if it survives into next year.

I also removed a Hosta ('Orange Marmalade') from the Dragon's Spine.

It had been in the bed since 2017, but it never seemed to grow well. I think it was under assault from critters looking to snack on it's roots. So, out it came and into the corner it went. I'm hoping this new location will allow it to grow and thrive. Only time will tell.

The location still looks sparse, and still needs mulch, but I think it will eventually fill in. 

Who knows, maybe nine years from now I will have to move them once again.