The globosa spruce (Picea pungens ‘Glauca Globosa’) and boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) filled the small area beside the older, circular patio after ten years. In the next twenty, both grew to obstruct the patio and path to the rear deck. Not that it matters at this point, but this is another of many examples of plants that have grown to far surpass the size listed by references. Given the information I had, the spruce had plenty of room, and in fact it did. It grew right over the empty space of the patio.

Nothing had to be done. My wife and I could continue squeezing through the narrow opening past the spruce and boxwood, though we chose the long way around when both were wet. There are other patios in the garden better suited to lounging, with more room and better views. Barbara, of course, argued for years that both evergreens should be chopped out, and while I knew this was best, removing mature parts of the garden is painful. Further to my defense, she argues that many plants must be chopped out or cut back, no matter that I prefer the informal look of plants softening the edges between paths and planting.

With work beginning soon to add a small sunroom to replace the deck, this was all the reason needed to remove the spruce, boxwood, and a tall nandina. It didn’t take long (above). Plants that grew for thirty years were removed in thirty minutes. Yes, hauling to the debris pile took another hour, but destruction happens much more quickly than construction.

My internal debate, deciding to tear down this oldest part of the garden, or not, was aided by the imminent delivery of a ‘Moonrise’ Japanese maple (Acer shirasawanum ‘Moonrise’). I’ve gone back and forth for a while, trying to figure where this more sun tolerant Full Moon maple could be planted. It’s not a big maple at maturity. A similar Golden Full Moon (below) in the rear garden has topped out just over ten feet, and lower branches can be pruned to walk under. This is the ideal spot for the tree, where its delightful foliage color can be regularly viewed.

The void left after removing the spruce, boxwood, and nandina was disturbing, but I was comforted knowing it would soon be filled. With the spruce overhanging a significant portion of the bluestone patio, I had long ignored awkward gaps between flagstones that became glaringly obvious. These were repaired (on a ninety-six degree afternoon), and the next afternoon (ninety-eight degrees) the low stone wall retaining the modest slope was replaced by small boulders (below) that will allow planting in crevices that I enjoy.

I am beginning to get the vision of the new garden. Most of the planting will take place after the sunroom is completed so the workers have plenty of room, but I think I can sneak in a few plants along the outer edge. Already I’ve ordered a few oddball plants, and hope that what had become a largely ignored part of the garden becomes a favorite with a view from the patio and from the sunroom. I doubt I’ll be around to enjoy it for another thirty years.