With newly opened space as the sunroom nears completion, the time seems appropriate to divulge my process in planning the addition to this thirty-four year old garden. While the typical shoehorning of plants into small gaps in this cluttered garden is often accomplished with little attention, this area demands thoughtfulness. A first? And, am I capable of thought and not only impulse?

Often, plant choices in this garden are made with no clue where they’ll be planted, but I want one and know I’ll find a spot somewhere. By some miracle, it all works in the end, I think. Now, I plan a somewhat more organized approach to creating this new area, but still, nothing will go onto paper. There will be no constraints right up until the last moment when holes are dug.

While still working to develop ideas for what goes where in this small area, there are practical and creative considerations. Tops on the list of practicalities is moving around the garden. Second, is our priority that the view from the sunroom be enhanced, but the long view into the garden must not be obstructed.

The footprint of the deck that was removed was larger on all sides than the new sunroom, and while the deck had steps to both sides of the garden, there is now a doorway only to the path leading to the driveway. Other paths lead down and around to reach the far side of the rear garden, but a path in the narrow area just below the sunroom (above) is a more direct line. It makes sense, if that matters.

I bounced back and forth on adding a stone path through the narrow space between the sunroom and the pond, but finally gave in and decided to go with it. The path will be a convenience, but I think it will also allow me to feature a few new ground covers (variegated and yellow leafed saxifragas, beesia, and hemiboea, above) that would be lost in a larger space. Along the stone path, the ground covers will stand out along with two compact growing osmanthus (‘Party Lights’ and ‘Kaori hime’, below) that will fill wider spots. A small Chitalpa ‘El Nino’ (a cross between catalpa and chilopsis) will be planted just off the path at corner of the room where it should have just enough space, at least while I’m still around. There will be space for more.

As always, there are many plants that I’d love to plant here, but not obstructing the view all but nixes additional Japanese maples besides the ‘Butterfly’ maple already planted. The small size of this maple (and the single trunk) compared to the wide spreading nandina (below) it replaced opens up the view to the pond just below the sunroom, but this is the only spot I can get away with a Japanese maple.

No doubt, my planning process is not right for everyone (anyone?). Always, I leave opportunities to plug in plants that grab my attention. Winter is good for that. The lull encourages creativity, so it will not be surprising if plant orders are made regularly in the winter months with weekly deliveries in early spring. With the few plants in hand going into the ground soon, I’ll be impatient for spring. As always, I will over plant at the start so the new area fills in quickly. Adjustments will be made over the years to come.