I’m in big trouble. After a marvelous week touring nurseries in Oregon, I’ve decided I must have three Japanese maples (and a dwarf Metasequoia). The problem, where to put them? With my wife traveling for another week, I’ve had plenty of time to roam the garden, figuring where the maples could be planted. But, while I can shoehorn small shrubs and easily fit a few more perennials, trees are quite a different matter in this crowded, thirty-four year old garden.

No doubt, Barbara will shake her head, murmur “not again” and know that while she’s touring the world, this makes me happy. Fortunately, I now have a plan, certainly not ideal since the space is tight, but one that sets the three Japanese maples in prominent positions. I would say, again, that there will be no more space to add a tree from this day forward, but how many times have I said that?

Long term, there’s a possibility that two of the trees could grow a bit too wide for the space, but at the lower end of the rear garden I don’t think this will be much of a concern. Partially obstructing a path that stops a few paces ahead is a minor issue. And, this area that’s been planted in the past few years is missing something. The two maples and the dwarf redwood will almost complete the look, with a few fill ins still to come, I’m certain.

The third maple will be planted higher up in the rear garden, and here I anticipate that once I dig out the small area I’ll want to add a few granite boulders to raise the planting level. This maple, ‘Manyo no sato’ (above) is the prize of the three, and it will be the smallest at the start, but this will be the prime location. I expect it to become a favorite, or at least in the favored five.

Adding three more Japanese maples will increase the total in the garden up to about thirty-five. Just about right, I think.