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 shaded areas of open ground. Of course, it is despised by many who object that it ably performs this task.

Occasionally, I witness widespread areas of Japanese spurge (and Vinca minor) in local forests that have become denuded by deer, but always where there was once a homesite since it is not spread by birds. In the absence of substantial understory growth, the creeping ground covers slowly expand their range, precisely the reason they are effective in the garden where they suppress less vigorous annual weeds.

While periwinkle (Vinca minor) assists in minimizing weeds in small, partially sunny spaces in this garden, only one patch of Japanese spurge exists (above). This was transplanted unknowingly along with a hydrangea that has never flowered in shade beneath a behemoth gold thread cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera). The pachysandra has slowly spread from its minimal start to cover one foot square. I have no concern it will become a problem.

In early spring, I note the sad remaining foliage of the Mountain gordlinia (x Gordlinia grandiflora, above). Mostly brown, a few green leaves of the shrubby hybrid (a cross of Franklinia and Gordonia) are barely satisfactory as a replacement in the garden for a large Franklinia (Franklinia alatamaha) that perished several years ago in damp ground. The late summer flowers of Gordlinia are splendid (below), but here, the lack of autumn foliage color from the Franklinia is sorely missed.