Inarguably, in flower, the Golden Rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) is glorious. After too many years of pulling abundant seedlings, with ever increasing shade, the number has become manageable. So, I no longer despise the tree. Seedlings from the maples that border the garden are a much bigger nuisance,  but of course, I do not have the option to remove the forest.

Here is the time I must extol sloth as a virtue. Ignore problems long enough, and they might vanish or even become valued members of the garden. Still, I hold onto memories of plucking too many seedlings, so I will never regard the Golden Rain as a favorite. But no doubt, all problems can not be ignored as I bend to pluck another dozen maple seedlings.

Unfortunately, the sourwood (Oxydendron arboreum) along the northern border faded into the background long ago as it was wedged between trees with more vigor. Its glorious blooms can be seen only far overhead, where I rarely look. This is the case where better planning rather than impulse would have given a better result. Would one or the other, the Golden Rain or sourwood and not both, have been better? I’m happy to have both, so I have only a small regret that the sourwood was not given more prominence.

I must watch large seedlings of the promiscuous panicled hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) to be certain their vigor does not overwhelm neighbors. These are seedlings of a quite large ‘Tardiva’ hydrangea that is tucked between an ‘Okame’ cherry and two ‘Sekkan sugi’ Japanese cedars (Cryptomeria japonica). Seedlings have moved forward to compete with a Lion’s Head Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’) and an Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) that sprawls over the koi ponds edge. I must get around to chopping back it and another pushing into a huge paperbush, but with summer bloom approaching, this must wait until flowers fade. Yes, I said this a year ago.