A few weeks ago, a large branch of the tulip poplar that shaded much of the side garden was cut out. This involved a ladder and electric pole saw in a non-OSHA approved stunt, but gardeners are free to be idiots on their own time. In this case, the idiot survived to attempt even more daredevilish future gardening acts in his advancing age but apparently diminishing judgment, with the net result a few hours of additional sunlight in this side of the garden.

It must be noted that this work was accomplished while my wife was at work. I’m certain the benefit of working without hearing her constant warnings outweighs the practicality of having someone to summon an ambulance.

After a few large but barely worthwhile hydrangeas were removed, a sizable gap was created. Did I have any idea what I’d plant into the newly opened space? Of course not, except there were a few trees I badly wanted.

A small, variegated Dove tree (Davidia involucrata ‘Aya nishiki’) was purchased last year, then potted while I figured a spot for it. I planted it in this new open space, but immediately I was dissatisfied with its skimpiness, so back to the garden center for another redbud, ‘Little Woody’ (Cercis canadensis ‘Little Woody’), that will add considerably more substance from the start. The Dove tree goes back in a pot.

It is possible that ‘Zig Zag’ redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Zig Zag’), found after scouring internet sources, could be the last of the redbuds added to the garden. With just enough sunlight, I think, ‘Little Woody’ and ‘Zig Zag’ will be ideal for converting this long ignored part of the garden into a favorite. But, what else, and contrary to my expectation, a visit to the garden center convinced me that a few larger, evergreen fillers (PJM rhododendrons and Mountain laurel) should be surrounded by out of the ordinary plants that would need some time to grow.

Fortunately, I knew a source to find somewhat unusual shrubs that should thrive in this half shaded garden. I’ve visited a botanical garden outside Seattle, Washington (above and below) a few times on my way to hiking in the Olympic Mountains, and of course, I visited their small nursery even though I knew I couldn’t pack plants to fly back home (I travel light). I saw enough to convince me to order from their twice a year open catalog, and though I’d already ordered earlier this winter, I purchased a handful of shrubs that I am barely familiar with.

All are small, so I’m certain there will be no photos for a year or two, but this discovery is a large part of my enjoyment. One or two of the newcomers might fail, not appropriate for the summer heat of a Virginia garden, but the garden is an experiment where surprises are cherished. In short time, this once ignored, but now renovated part of the garden should become a favorite.