I must take advantage of every opportunity to add another Japanese maple to the garden. Of course, depending on some mysterious internal mechanism that determines today’s favorite, a spot might be filled by another redbud or dogwood. There are plenty of each here already, but there are so many wonderful selections that I have to…

In another week, emerging leaves will provide a measure of safety as I romp through the garden. Undoubtedly, I’ve destroyed several somethings in recent weeks. I do my best, but there’s too much, and if I can’t see them, what am I to do? I only hope that I haven’t mangled a ladyslipper or some…

Again, this early spring, I’m delighted by the increased number of trilliums appearing in the garden. A year ago, I first noticed ones coming up where I was certain none were planted, and now there are more as well as new seedlings beside parent plants. The youngsters are a few years from flowering, but what…

The glorious view from the sunroom begins the second week of March. The vista is never dull. Even in the lull of winter, there are a variety of colorful hellebores with blooms from December, but the grander scale is begun with two white flowered magnolias (‘Merrill’ and ‘Royal Star’) that are viewed before the small…

Wood poppies (Stylophorum diphyllum, below) have seeded into open and not so open spaces in the dry, shaded side garden. I’m not quite certain when or where it was first planted, but it pops up everywhere without asking, though it stops as sunlight encroaches into this shaded space. Since it typically goes dormant by summer…

Typically, freezing nights dot the forecast at the start of April, but with afternoons in the sixties and seventies, the gardener no longer has concerns that temperatures will drop into the teens to inflict serious damage. Yes, it can happen. It has happened, but rarely enough, I have few worries. No matter, I’ve jumped ahead…

A few dozen Tete-a-tete daffodils remain in bloom. These were autumn planted after construction of the sunroom was completed, probably in December, which accounts for flowering that is weeks late. I’m happy to have planted hellebores, daffodils, snowdrops, winter aconites (Eranthis), and spring starflowers (Ipheion) immediately rather than waiting another year. Certainly, taking time to…

I brush against the Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa, below) with a cloud of pollen erupting. The reproductive organs are barely visible, but another cloud is released as I examine more closely. Clearly, the cypress is wind pollinated, not dependent on the birds and bees, or even the curious gardener to spread pollen. Of course, this…

What’s that? Oh, something I planted. I’ll know in a few weeks, but for now, at least I can see something so I don’t plant this Asian mayapple where it will have to be moved so soon. It’ll never stop. The garden’s never done. After thirty-five years, there’s hardly an open inch until closer inspection…

This rainy afternoon is ideal for observing the garden from the perch of the glass walled sunroom that looks down upon the rear garden. Raindrops fall onto parts of the three ponds visible, though one will soon be obscured as Japanese maples come into leaf and Ostrich ferns unfurl their tall fronds. Two Japanese maples…

Today, flowers of Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens, below) verify that the native is the superior choice for this garden, where I ask only that it fill small spaces, flower beautifully, and display attractive foliage. Its cousin, the Japanese spurge (P. terminalis) is less showy but considerably more vigorous and better suited to spreading to cover…

The small rear lawn is littered by petals of ‘Merrill’ magnolia that drift on the breezes. Six days of peak flowering were a bonus before a twenty-five degree (Fahrenheit) freeze began a decline that will soon turn today’s limp flowers to brown mush. The gardener disturbed by the nearly annual freeze damage should simply plant…