As a collector of far too many plant species, I often focus on individuals rather than the garden as a whole. Regular visitors to this page understand that I will cram a coveted redbud or Japanese maple into a space too small for its eventual growth, but now I have it so I’ll happily accept any consequences. If this detracts from the garden’s appearance, I believe it is slight. I prefer the exuberance of one tree merging with another, so too much is good, at least to my eye.

My strolls through the garden are occasionally hurried. It’s twelve degrees but I must see the witch hazels flowering on this winter day. Or, a storm is approaching, but more likely I have ten minutes to catch up on the latest irises in bloom before I must be off to a mountain hike or one of my volunteer obligations. Free days or half-days are spent leisurely strolling, perhaps lounging on one of the patios when I’m not planting or weeding.

After heavy rainfall in recent weeks, the yellow-barked ‘Bihou’ Japanese maple (above) began to lean with its rain-soaked and still flexible new growth. There was no alternative but to prune this growth by half. The hornbeam tunnel to the lower rear garden (below) must be pruned a time or two each year, but otherwise, little trimming is done.

The wobbly stone paths must be cleared of obstructions occasionally to permit visitors to tour. With an overly talkative host (only about plants), two hours or more must be dedicated to the walkaround. A photo tour will require considerably less time, but individual plants will be missed. Less detail versus less chatter.

Today will show the lower half of the rear garden in late May, nearing the end of its peak season. The upper rear garden, side, and front will follow.