Midnight Sun

As I was putting the finishing touches on the front bed, I realized there were still a few gaps that would benefit from additional planting, particularly around the Sapporo lantern.

To anchor the larger open space between the boxwood and the lantern, I selected a Midnight Sun Weigela (Weigela florida 'Verweig9'), a compact, reblooming deciduous shrub prized for its multicolored foliage and vivid pink tubular flowers. 

While other weigelas already grow within the Rose Garden and the Stroll Garden, this cultivar offers a distinctly different character. Its rich reddish foliage complements both the brick façade of the house and the warm tones of the Sapporo lantern. It also reinforces the reddish color palette I began establishing with the Voodoo Stonecrop (Sedum spurium 'Voodoo') I planted around the lantern's base earlier in the week.

As the shrub matures, it will require periodic pruning, along with the adjacent boxwood, to maintain adequate spacing and preserve the form of each plant.

To further strengthen the warm color palette in this corner of the bed, I added two Chick Charms 'Chocolate Kiss' hens and chicks (Sempervivum 'Chocolate Kiss'). 

Their burgundy-tinged rosettes provide an attractive contrast to the surrounding foliage, while their exceptional drought tolerance makes them well suited to the somewhat sandy soil within this portion of the garden.

Viewed together, these new additions create a pleasing interplay of color and texture. Set against the deep green backdrop of the boxwood and fountain grass, the burgundy foliage and succulents introduce welcome contrast, breaking up the predominance of green foliage and brown mulch while drawing the eye naturally toward the lantern as a focal point.

With these additions, I should now be done with the design and implementation of the new garden updates in the front yard.

Now its time to tend to the needs of all the other gardens.

Garden Trinity

One of the newest additions to the Zen Garden is a small composition of three granite stones arranged to evoke a Buddhist trinity. A medium-sized stone forms the centerpiece, representing the Buddha, while two smaller companion stones rest on either side as protective guardians—attendant forms that flank and support the central presence. Together, the grouping stands approximately 2.5 feet tall and spans about six feet across.

The arrangement is inspired by the way Buddhist devotional art and temple gardens use simple, symbolic forms to convey meaning. In this miniature setting, stone is not merely part of the landscape—it becomes a presence: the steady, enduring “body” of the Dharma, with the side stones serving as watchful companions that hold the center in place.

Rather than creating a panoramic scene, my goal was to establish a quiet focal point that invites contemplation on a small scale. In fact, the finished feature has become a garden within the garden.

The stones are nestled within a carpet of Creeping Thyme (Thymus 'Tym Rampant') and Red Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum 'Coccineus'). 

I wasn’t able to acquire enough Creeping Thyme on its own, so I combined the two varieties (I will remedy this next season). Over time, these plantings will soften the base as they spread between the rocks. As the growth fills in, the guardian stones and central “Buddha stone” should appear less like separate objects and more like a single, unified feature.

Behind and just to the right of the central stone, a Dwarf Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) adds seasonal interest with deep blue flowers and burgundy-red autumn foliage. 

post gravel

As the planting matures, it will serve as a backdrop to the stone grouping without overwhelming it.

I also transplanted a stray Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum) I harvested from the woodlot behind the garden fence, placing it behind the guardian stone on the left to help fill the empty space.

post gravel

Not wanting to overfill the bed, I left open space behind the largest stone. Sometimes, less truly is more.

On the right side of the bed, I added a small Rheingold Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis 'Rheingold'). This plant had once been a full shrub but suffered during a harsh winter, forcing me to remove much of its foliage. For the past few years, it had been living in a bucket, where I used it as a kind of false bonsai. Given its miniature size, I felt it could serve here as a small, cloud-pruned accent shrub. It looks far better in this setting than it ever did in a bucket.

I also gathered moss from the back woodlot to surround the base of each planting. It creates a cleaner, more finished look and should help retain moisture, especially after I fill the bed with gravel.

Before doing so, I needed a way to keep the gravel separate from the mulch and to define the shape of the gravel bed. To do so, I used some leftover EasyFlex No-Dig Black Plastic Landscape Edging from another project. I liked its straight edge, and the fact that I could keep it level between the mulch and gravel without it being glaringly evident. I also covered the area with a heavy duty weed fabric to keep mulch and gravel separated.

post gravel

post gravel

Surrounding the stones and plantings is a layer of Vermont Poultry Grit (Developer Layer). 

While traditional Japanese gravel is not readily available where I live, poultry grit provides a remarkably similar appearance and texture. Its pale color contrasts beautifully with the dark granite, and its coarse surface can be raked much like gravel in a traditional Zen garden. One practical consideration, however, is that it needs to be at least two inches deep to hold raked patterns effectively (Note: I still have to add another layer of grit, on order, before I can place patterns)

Just outside of the gravel bed, on the right, behind the large boxwood, I filled a void in the mulch with a cutting from Hakonechloa macra 'Beni-kaze' (Japanese Forest Grass). 

Although the entire bed gets a lot of morning sunlight, this location near the back of the bed should offer enough afternoon shade to help the grass thrive.

Finally, I decided to include my small Buddha statue within the bed. 

This figure tends to move about the garden, changing location with the seasons—or simply on a whim. I realize it is somewhat redundant to have a large stone representing the Buddha alongside a miniature Buddha, and it may strike some as a bit kitschy. Even so, it may help casual visitors better understand the symbolic significance of the stone arrangement.

Though modest in scale, this miniature Zen garden offers a distinct kind of viewing experience. 

The permanence of stone, the softening influence of living plants, and the quiet simplicity of the arrangement combine to create a space where visitors may pause and reflect as they pass along the walkway. 

I am very pleased with the outcome.

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.

Getting Stoned

I began work on finishing the planting bed between the new porch and the front walkway. Once completed, this project will connect this front garden with the rest of the Asian-inspired gardens beyond the Middle Gate Entryway and throughout the property.

The focal point of the bed will be a large granite stone that I purchased back in May and am only now installing. 

The stone was far too heavy for me to handle on my own, so I hired Eco Quality Landscaping of Ballston Lake, New York, to deliver and set it in place.

Standing just over three feet tall, the stone was installed upright with at least one foot buried below grade to ensure its stability. 

Once the crew unloaded the stone by hand from the delivery truck, they maneuvered it into position with relative ease. It was also nice to watch someone else do all that hard work—a rare opportunity during one of my gardening projects.

Because one side of the stone has a slight curve, I added a bed of crushed gravel beneath it to provide a solid, level base and help prevent any shifting over time.

I am very pleased with its placement, especially since it does not rise above the porch deck.

There is still plenty of work ahead before this new landscape feature and the surrounding area are complete, but getting the granite stone installed is an important first step.

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.