I’ve done it again. One of my favorite flowers, Deutzia ‘Magicien’ (Deutzia x hybrida ‘Magicien’) is half hidden (maybe three-quarters) by a ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba ‘Chi Chi’) that was transplanted from somewhere (I forget where) and the ‘Canyon Creek’ abelia (Abelia x grandiflora ‘Canyon Creek’) that must be pruned annually to limit its sprawl. Somehow, I forgot this year, but possibly I’ll get around to it.

There are multiple issues here, none of which are new and haven’t happened repeatedly. Of course, a place must be found for new plants, and this might necessitate moving something else. Certainly, deutzia is not flowering at that moment, and it’s as unremarkable in leaf as a shrub can be, so anyone and everyone would overlook it to plant a ginkgo directly in front of it.

In any case, excuse my excuse making. I am only slightly distressed by the mostly obscured deutzia. The ginkgo looks better for longer, and so does ‘Canyon Creek’ with yellow foliage and summer flowers that extend past the earliest autumn frosts. ‘Magicien’ has grown tall and wide, so the flowers can still be seen from the path, and I can squeeze between the ginkgo and abelia to view the blooms close up, which is a must.

I do not claim to speak for all gardeners, and no doubt gardeners would vote overwhelmingly that I avoid doing so, but details can be overlooked in the enthusiasm for adding splendid new plants to the garden. Today, I’ve planted one of two sweetferns (Comptonia peregrina) too close to a ‘Florida Sunshine’ illicium (Illicium parviflorum ‘Florida Sunshine’) that was hit hard by a subzero winter freeze and then again a week ago by a freeze that nipped its new growth. It’ll all work out, and I know it’s too close.

In the same order delivered this afternoon, a Wheel Tree (Trochodendron arailiodes) was far larger than expected for a very reasonable price. The new tree is nearly as large as the one I killed by neglect, and while the spot where the old one was planted has been taken by a new mahonia, I had to walk around a few times to find an appropriate location for this treasure. I found it, at least a location where the Wheel Tree will grow even if it’s not fully appropriate. I won’t be around to see the tree over grow the area beside the summerhouse, but while I’m still here it’s perfect.

Some mistakes are truly mistakes, others are innocent miscalculations, and some inspired lunacy. Make too many and the garden is a glorious disaster, I think.