Pom Pom Trim

While cleaning up from the winter, I decided to trim the Boulevard Cypress Oriental Pompon (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Cyano-virdis') near the East Gate. I usually trim this out mid-summer, but the corner where it is planted needed immediate attention.

The Cypress has grown considerably over the last few years. Much of the bottom growth has disappeared, but new growth at the top continues. Hence, I was a bit less aggressive with trimming this time.

Putting off the trimming has resulted in the Cypress losing its faux "cloud pruning" of the past. As a result, I needed to remove a significant amount of growth between limbs to open up those spaces once again.

Pruning the Cypress is a time-consuming task. Also, the space where it is located requires me to be careful not to damage nearby plantings.

Unfortunately, the Heaven Scent Jacob's ladder (Polemonium 'Heaven Scent') I planted last year in the front left corner of the bed did not survive the winter. In its place I planted a remnant of Japanese forest grass I had sitting in a bucket. The grass likes shade and over time will do well here. Most likely it will grow too big in time and I will need to relocate it, but for now, it fills the empt gap well.

I have become fond of the tree. Its ability to thrive over the years has been remarkable. On the other hand, I am concerned that it may be outgrowing the space allocated by the tight corner where it resides. Hopefully, continued pruning will help ensure that it survives for a few more years.

A Wrinkle in Time x 2

Over the years, the narrow bed at the northeast end of the garden, diagonally across from Buddha, has been one of the more difficult places to plant. Its limited space and light have challenged many of the plants I've tried there, and finding the right fit has been an ongoing exercise in patience.

This spring, I decided to try two 'Wrinkle in Time' hostas. 

image taken July 8

Growing to only about nine inches tall, their compact habit seems well suited to this small space. I needed two plants to fill the bed, but together they create a balanced planting without feeling crowded. The purple blooms add a welcome touch of seasonal color among the rocks and greenery. 

Like the other hostas throughout the garden, they should receive enough filtered light to settle in and flourish. With a little luck, they'll grow into healthy clumps that can someday be divided and shared with other quiet corners of the garden.

Gardening often means accepting that some places take longer than others to reveal what belongs there. Perhaps this little bed has finally found the plants it has been waiting for.

Whispers of Spring

The first two weeks of May are always among my favorite times in the garden. Almost every day brings something new, and the viewing and stroll gardens begin to fill with the fresh colors that signal spring has truly arrived.

The First Flame Maple "Iseli Introduction" (Acer x pseudosieboldianum) leads the way with a brilliant flush of deep red foliage, impossible to overlook.

Nearby, an early tree frog pauses at the base of a fence rail, as if taking a moment to enjoy the garden before the busy season begins.

The Royal Raindrops Crabapple (Mrs. Krabappel) follows with its soft pink blossoms, adding another layer of color to the landscape. It also reminds me that a little pruning is in its future—a garden is always beautiful, but it's never really finished.

By the second week of May, the First Flame has already begun its gradual transformation, its fiery red softening to orange before the leaves eventually settle into their summer green.

For this brief window, though, the vibrant colors steal the show, reminding me why spring is such a rewarding season. After months of waiting, the garden is awake once again.

Deer vs. Goats

As spring unfolded, I found an unwelcome surprise near the back gate of the vegetable garden. The Pink Azalea (Azalea 'Blaauw's Pink'), which I had planted just last May, had been severly browsed by deer. 

2025 - in better days

Looking back, I should have known better. It was simply too close to the fence line of the woodlot beyond, where deer pass through with regularity.

Rather than give up on it, I carefully dug up the azalea and moved it into a bucket, hoping a season of recovery will give it a chance to regain its strength before finding it a safer home later this summer.

The empty space offered an opportunity to try something new. In its place, I planted 'Chantilly Lace' Goatsbeard (Aruncus), a slightly larger variety that produces airy, cream-colored plumes and grows to about two or three feet tall. 

Photo - post plume trim in July

It should fill the opening nicely while bringing a softer texture to this corner of the garden.

I've come to appreciate Goatsbeard over the years. The dwarf varieties have proven themselves dependable in the shaded parts of the garden, asking for little while rewarding me with graceful foliage and reliable blooms. 'Chantilly Lace' feels like a natural extension of that success. Its creamy flowers offer a welcome contrast to the brighter astilbes growing elsewhere, adding a quieter note that complements rather than competes.