The colors of this garden were not well planned. In fact, there was no planning at all. I see a plant, I like it, and plant it (a slight oversimplification). The result? No doubt, some will disagree. I think this riotous border of color is glorious. Visitors agree, but what do we know?

I have no question there are clashes of colors. Despite my colorblindness, it’s likely I would overlook all but the most garish conflicts. Varying textures, I see, but if closeby colors don’t work well together, too bad, it’ll all be over in another week.

The path to the rear garden from the driveway is at its most colorful the first week of May when deciduous Exbury azaleas combine with a native fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) and newly emerged foliage of red leafed Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Twombly’s Red Sentinel’) and beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Red Obelisk’), and a yellow leafed redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Golden Falls’). If additional color is required, a white flowered, yellow leafed ‘Chardonnay Pearls’ deutzia fills the lower tier.

Perhaps this is too much, but this is a week that I cherish. Soon enough, flowers will fade, leaving behind the still splendid red and yellow foliage that only fades slightly as temperatures rise.