Having an Autumn Lie-In

It’s great

Having an autumn lie-in

As the host

    -  Matsuo Basho

By early October fall settled in once again, and the garden continues its bloom of colors. This year I think the new cedar fence panels add to the beauty. 

This year I added some mums to add some interest.

By mid-October, the rebuilt Moon Window looked wonderful as the deep red of the small maple added some differentiation.

The Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Beni-kaze’), first planted in 2009, is one of the origial garden plantings. To this day it continues to thrive at the base of the Mioshi Post Lantern, its red tipped leaves setting it apart from all the other grasses in the garden.

The Charlotte (Veronica Longifolia 'Charlotte') behind Guanyin always produces its spikes of white tubular flowers in the fall. They only last a few days, but they never disappoint.

Near the end of October, the Dwarf Maple finally makes its spectacular transformation. Unfortunately, these photos were take a couple days past peak. Nevertheless, is still looks beautiful.

With winter just around the corner, the fall provides one last opportunity to enjoy the garden "as the host" with one last "lie-in" before the early snow sets in for the winter.

Cornered

After much delay on my part, the time to rethink the corner of the garden where Buddha resides finally arrived.

Corner Before Makeover

For the last couple of years the location seemed to be changing. The two Astilbe plants were growing uneven, as were the two Bottle Rockets. As a result, the balance surrounding Buddha that I had attempted to create back in 2014 was no longer present.

In addition, the Mouse Ear Hosta I had planted directly in front of Buddha were barely visible. Slugs had done a lot of damage to them these last few years. Additionally, I had allowed a significant amount of moss to grow here, covering the original black Mexican stones I had placed in the location.

I removed all the moss, and dug up what was left of the Mouse Ear Hosta. I will try to revive them in small pots for future use elsewhere. I also dug up the Astilbe (Astilbe x arendsii 'Fanal' on the right and will try to bring it back in a pot as well. 

On the left, the remnants of a once large 'Bottle Rocket' Ligularia was removed and potted, but I do not think it will survive. I also removed the existing Bottle Rocket on the right and relocated it it temporarily in the Dragon's Spine.

I decided to stick to the same balance theme as before and replaced both Bottle Rockets with Rocket Ligularia (Ligularia stenocephala 'The Rocket'). 

New Bottle Rocket at Left

The two new plants are very similar to the plants removed, but will grow larger. I need to be careful because these plants require moist soil.

After removing the Astilbe (Astilbe x arendsii 'Fanal' on the right, I was surprised to find that the soil was very dry. We have had little rain this summer, but I also need to place an additional sprinkler in this location. The lack of water may have contributed to the slow growth of the original Astilbe. In its place, I decided to relocate the last remaining Japanese Astilbe (Astilbe japonica 'Montgomery') from the Dragon Spine. It will help fill this void and bring some balance to the Buddha area. They only issue is that it will produce a slightly different bloom color than the existing Astilbe (Astilbe x arendsii 'Fanal') on the left. 

Post Makeover - Unfinished

I will wait until next year to see what it looks like and then determine if I want to replace both plants with the same variety to maintain the symmetry (essentially I am being cheap and unwilling to spend money on new plants this year).

I have also removed all of the Mexican Black Stone from the area directly in front of Buddha. I have yet to decide the final appearance of this area. Perhaps moss alone or some other slug resistant plantings.

Fill the Void

Wanting to fill in the void below the Boulevard Cypress Oriental Pompon, I decided to move the Brunnera (macrophylla 'Emerald Mist') that resided behind the Cypress near the East Gate. 

The Emerald Mist had been there for many years and liked the area in terms of light/shade and moisture. It now resides just near the recently trimmed Maple in the Zen garden.

However, the Emerald Mist did not grow vary tall and the void created by the ever dying limbs of the lower part of the Cypress dictated that I try and locate a plant that could fill the void. 

As a replacement, I chose a Little Heath Pieris (Pieris japonica 'Little Heath').

Although this shrub has the potential to grow  to 3 - 4' tall/wide, I think it will grow slow here and I should be able to manage it by keeping it clipped and shaped so as not to grow beyond the bed.

As an evergreen, it will also add some interest throughout the year and its color contrast should brighten up the corner.

I may have to reconsider the Hosta in the front. It is getting large, but it leaves are not as compact as I like. I can make that decision next spring.

Like a Cloud in the Wind

I awoke early this morning and began work on the annual trimming of the Boulevard Cypress Oriental Pompon (Chamaecyparis pisifera "Cyano-virdis'). 

I was worried because over the last year, many of the limbs and growth has died off near the lower portion of the plant. Its not noticeable from the gazebo area, but when you look directly at it from within the garden or near the East gate, you see it right away.

Before Trimming #1

Before Trimming #2

Regardless, the top portion needs to be thinned out. I like to think I am cloud pruning this rather than creating pompoms. I know its not authentic, but the way I am trimming with this Cypress is the closest thing I can do to achieve a cloud pruned look.

I usually start from the bottom and clean out all the dead material. It's easy to spot because the needles are all brown and the tiny limbs are dead wood.

Afterward, I start by making my way around at intervals to trim "pom pom" sections (clouds) away from each other. The idea is to make sure they don't touch. It's a lot like maintaining a Bonsai. I always cut from the underside first, making sure that no growth is hanging down or growing downward. 

Eventually, I have to cut some well developed and healthy growth to maintain the gaps between the "clouds." This year, due to the increase in dead material, the overall plant is looking thinned out, so I have to be careful not to over trim. The goal is to expose the limbs for interest without killing the plant.

I have noticed that the very top of the plant is growing rapidly this year. So, my plan is to leave the top relatively intact and see what happens next year. 

Normally, I would lop it off and leave a small nob at the top. As the bottom thins out, perhaps the top will continue to grow and keep the plant healthy and thriving. I will, however, need to rethink some of the plants near the base. Taller plants may help close up the void created by the missing dead material at the bottom, especially in the back.

Here is a video of me working. I have sped it up and edited it:

Keep in mind, this type of trimming is slow going and takes much more time than when I trim a maple. In fact, it took almost three hours of slow, painstaking clipping to trim this Cypress. So, three hours of work were reduced to a 1 min. video. Time wise, its no problem for me, I actually find it very relaxing, like Zen mediation.

In the end, I have a trimmed Cypress that looks fantastic (although a bit wonky near the top).

After Trimming #1

After Trimming #2

Once again, the Cypress will add some interest to the garden for another year.

Maple Makeover

It was time for the annual Maple trim for the Dwarf Maple in the Zen garden.

I had already trimmed out the Red Dwarf Maple in the Dragon's Spine area back in the early spring (sorry, no blog post for that one).

Thinning out the foliage and allowing sunlight to get to the trunk will be healthier for the tree. You don't want the foliage to become so thick that it impedes the growth of the lower portions of the canopy.

I always start with cutting the low hanging foliage to open up the underside (see the 2020 trimming). This allows the trunk and larger branches to be exposed, which can add some interest to the tree. The first few times I did this, I was concerned I was removing too much foliage and potentially killing the tree. However, each year the tree comes back and I have to repeat the process. Occasionally I might skip a year or limit trimming just to be safe. Try not to remove more than 30% per cutting. Give the tree a chance to adjust to the shock.

Check out the following video of my latest trimming of the Dwarf Maple in the Zen garden:

Here is a before and after set of images:

Before (Maple on right)

After (Maple on right)

For the record, the actual trimming process shown in the video above took 50 min. Overall, I am happy with the finished look.

Until next year, I will enjoy the view.

Water, Water everywhere...

Climate change has proven to be a real threat to my garden activities. Many plants and shrubs in the garden are suffering from the constant high temperature and limited rainfall. I have not seen a dry summer like this in many years.

The gardens on property, include the following: Zen, Stroll, and Viewing Gardens, Dragon's Spine, Vegetable Garden, Herb Garden, and the general landscaping around the house and grass covered lawn. Needless to say, my new full time job is watering everything.

The Vegetable Garden Has been on a timed watering system for years. 

The Zen garden has also been on a timed system. I installed it close to 10 years ago out of necessity. It was taking almost an hour for me to do just the Zen garden by hand with a hose. 

Usually, I have the timer set for 10 minutes in the morning and 10 more minutes in the afternoon. I alter the timing depending on the weather conditions, but this year has been so dry I occasionally spot water where needed.

After finishing the fence along the Viewing and Stroll Garden, and then adding additional plants, I knew I would have to extend the watering system into those new areas.

Stroll Garden

Viewing Garden

They system I use is a micro-spinkler system. There are several varieties available to purchase, but I have had good luck over the years with the Mister Sprinkler system (Note: I get no endorsement for this recommendation, I actually use it). 

It's easy to install and maintain. I just have to flush out the water before winter (I use a power blower).

Extending the system into the Viewing and Stroll garden areas costs me about $100 and a half day of labor. Note: the kit pictured above is only a starter kit. I had to add 100' of hose and and many micor-spinkler heads/holders (beware, the holders can increase costs).

Given that the soil in these areas is sandy, the automatic watering will go along way to help ensure they make it through these hot periods. It will also free me up to do other tasks in the garden.

I also ran a 25' section along the garage wall, but I have not yet added any sprinklers. I'm not sure what will be the best way to do so given the bamboo and the way it hangs low as it grows. I may have to change this section to more of a drip system.

Ironically, during the afternoon, after I had finished the installation, it rained for the first time in a couple of weeks.

Garden Snake

I planted a Chocolate White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' (Ageratina altissima) in the border along the Stroll Garden.

It actually sits just  behind the Crabapple Tree and is in a location where the Viewing Garden and the Stroll Garden meet. 

I did have to move the Arborvitae Fire Chief (Thuja occidentalis 'Congabe') That was nearby (just to the right of the Chocolate White Snakeroot). 

This Arborvitae Fire Chief has not done well over the years and has been moved several times. 

As I was moving it today, I realized it was growing in an elongated fashion. So, wanting it to do well, and grow in a more rounded way, I clipped away at the elongated edges. Hopefully this will help it mound better, and by clipping away at the foliage it may help direct more energy into the core of the shrub. Only time will tell.

I planted the Chocolate White Snakeroot nearby to fill in some of he open space just behind the Crabapple tree. Since this plant will grow to 3' x 4' it should do a job of filling in this spot and help to demarcate the transition from one garden into the other.

I like the color of the leaves and the white flowers that will bloom (I have a similar grafted tree version behind the house). It likes part shade, which the fence will provide, but it will also tolerate full sun which will be present from mid day onward. It might also attract butterflies.

Mid Season Makeover, Part 3

This afternoon, I finished up the new plantings and maintenance. 

I began by adding a Sedum (Stonecrop 'Strawberry Milkshake') along the back wall of the garage. There was a bit of a gap there that I thought needed to be filled. In the past, the bamboo covered this area, but only when it was tall. 

This year all of the bamboo on the property died off during the winter. Thankfully new shoots are now filling those spaces, but it will be a couple of year before they are long and tall again (provided they make it through the next winter). Hence the gap between the Forest Grass and the Bamboo. I also made some adjustments to the two small plants that were already there, a Japanese Painted Fern and small Hosta.

I liked the dark redish color of the Strawberry Milkshake Stonecrop. 

I also liked its rubbery texture. It should deter slugs. This stonecrop needs sunlight all day, and currently this location gets a great deal of sunlight. Perhaps in time the plant will grow in size, approx. H 20-24" x W 30-36". There is a water sprinkler in this location that will need to be redirected since the plant prefers dry conditions.

I then planted a Pandora (Lingularia dentata 'Pandora') in the area within the Zen garden close to Buddha, just in front of the Birch Leaf Spirea (Spiraea betulifolia 'Tor Gold'). 

It is a small plant  and will not grow beyond 12". It should produce a bloom of yellow flowers, but I have to wait and see if that occurs in the fall, or maybe next year. This spot was very small, so I think this plant fits in nicely. My only concern is that slugs will really like to eat it.

The later part of the day was spent reworking the area between the Azalea (Rhododendron 'Farrow') and the Coreopsis, Threadleaf ‘Zagreb’. The Coreopsis plant had been there for many years, but had lost its shape over time and was spreading around. Moss had taken over much of the area, and yet the Coreopsis continued to grow. So, taking a risk, I gently removed all the moss and dug up all of the pieces of Coreopsis. I placed them into a container as a single clump, then replaced all of the moss I had removed. Then I replanted the Coreopsis into a hole in the center of the moss. I don't know if it will survive or return next year, but it was worth it just to clean up the area. 

Behind it, I planted a new large Sedum (Stonecrop Rock and Grow 'Black in Black'). I liked the color, but I was also hoping that if it grows in time it will help to hide the view of the post protector in this location. 

My concern is that it will not get enough sunlight, but I will to give it a try and see what happens.

It will take some time for this area to recuperate from my work. Throughout the area, just under the Maple, were at least eight Japanese Painted Ferns and some other plants that I ignored for the last few years. I removed them all and placed them in buckets. 

As a result, the area is more open, and I have a bunch of ferns I can now relocate elsewhere or give to neighbors and friends.

Mid Season Makeover, Part 2

After the morning slug fest, I continued to work on new plantings and garden maintenance.

I began by reworking the area in front of the Moon Window. During the fence repairs and updates, I had done a good job trampling anything that once grew in this area. Originally I had a couple of Astilbe on either side of the Moon Window opening. However, last year both were eaten from below by voles. The key to stoping the Voles is to place small jagged stones in with the soils as your are planting. This will deter them from eating the roots from underneath, which is usually how they attack.

This time, I planted two Rheinland Astible (Astible X Arendsii "Rhinland'). The blooms have already come and gone for this season, but they should prove to be a bright redish/pink next summer.

In addition, I had some Jurassic Gold Wood Ferns directly below the opening. I liked the look, so I replanted new versions of each in the same location.

The Jurassic Gold Wood Ferns (Dryopteris wallichiana "Jurassic Gold") have a nice golden color in the early spring. I won't see that color until next year, but they do look different than the Japanese painted Ferns that are near by, helping to differentiate the Moon Window from the rest of the fence.

I also used some stray ferns that had appeared elsewhere in the garden to fill in any gaps along the long edge of the fence where the Japanese painted Ferns are located.

After adding some new cedar mulch, I am pleased with the results.

Slug Smoothie

I awoke this morning to start planting some of the new plants I purchased yesterday. However, I have become increasingly aware that there are many slugs in the garden, more than I have ever seen. So, I started my early morning by going on a slug hunt. My hope was that I could catch them in the early morning before they could retreat to their hiding places in the rocks and plants.

My plan was simple, use chopstick to pick them up and place them in a clear cup with a plastic lid. 

Over the years I have tried all the remedies that people suggest online and in books. None are effective. My problem is that the watering system keeps the garden moist most of the time, while the rocks in the garden make for great places to hide. Both make for the perfect slug breading ground. 

So chopsticks it is. Slugs are slimy and unpleasant to touch. Chopsticks work great, I can quickly grab them, even in tight places, and drop them into the cup. Nice and simple.

Remember to keep the lid handy, and tape any straw hole in the top to keep the slugs from getting out.

After collecting slugs fro about 30 minutes, I realized I was finding a lot. So many that the cup was becoming very full and heavy. Slugs kept trying to escape as I hunted, but I made sure to keep pushing them back down. However, I eventually ran out of room and had to start a second cup. 

Once a cup is full, I then place it in a bright sunny place and by the end of the day the slugs are melted and reduced to a liquid goo. 

I'm not about to win "Buddhist of the year," but my plants will appreciate my efforts. If I keep this up for a few days, dawn and dusk, and check frequently each week, I may be able to reduce the amount of damage being done to the plants in the garden.