Long ago, I discovered that the best remedy for my impatience, waiting for a plant to grow or flower, is to plant something else. Yes, this is a temporary distraction, but by the time the effect wears thin, the gardener’s attention is likely to be diverted by another shortcoming, or perhaps a beauty that calms his restlessness.

The ‘Moonlight’ climbing hydrangea (Schizophragma hydrangeoides ‘Moonlight’, above) has a single bloom this year after none a year ago and again a single flower the prior year. Two years ago was the first bloom after maybe ten years, and in its fourth year, I await the first flower of the variegated ‘Miranda’ (Hydrangea anomola subsp. petiolaris ‘Miranda’, below) that covers several feet of ground as I wait for it to climb into a black gum (Nyssa sylvatica). Perhaps neither will meet my expectations, but both possess excellent foliage, so I have no regrets and abundant distractions.

After flowering a few years ago, branch tips of the Wheel Tree (Trochodendron aralioides, below) were nipped by deer in late autumn. So, I was not surprised that the slow growing evergreen did not flower last year. I anxiously awaited this year’s bloom. Of course, it did not flower, so now I wait for next year. I am encouraged by the Wheel Tree’s vigorous growth, a foot or more on several branches so that I might live long enough to see it obstruct the view from the kitchen window that Barbara has strictly warned against. I expect at least three years of growth until the uncommon tree is large enough to catch a visitor’s eye.

For years, I delayed planting a Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia, below) due to its slow initial growth and cost. I expect a more immediate return on purchases, but over decades, the expense is long forgotten with the reward of late spring blooms enjoyed many times.

The stewartia has grown to match the tall ‘Samaritan’ dogwood, and despite competition, it has retained many lower branches. Flowers were first seen from the sunroom on uppermost branches a few weeks before the progression to shaded lower branches. Today, while waiting for the lowest branches to bloom, the stone path below is carpeted by white flowers (below).