Changes in the uppermost section of the rear garden are nearing the third year since overgrown plants were dug out to make room for construction of the sunroom. The new plantings are a vast improvement with several favorites and already it’s becoming a bit overcrowded (before and after the renovation, below).
The upper circle patio, before (above), and after (below). The dwarf Globosa spruce had grown to seven feet tall and it spread five feet over the patio. Ostrich ferns had spread to cover an area that now has a dozen different plants.The upper circle patio is separated from the lower circle by a handful of steps as the rear garden slopes downward. The patio is now surrounded by a variety of Japanese maples, hostas, terrestrial orchids, toad lilies and much more.
The ‘Moonrise’ and ‘Butterfly’ Japanese maples will require some management in a few years to limit their size so the view from the sunroom is not obstructed. At least, my wife has told me that this is the plan.
The narrow path along the sunroom is not as overgrown as it appears. Creeping Jenny covers the path stones and several plants flop after recent rains.
There are three ponds in the upper area of the rear garden and midway down the slope is a fourth, the large koi pond. The three upper ponds are arranged to appear that water could move from one to the next, though the neighboring ponds are barely visible through the plantings.
Above and below, the stone path follows the stream that is barely seen in the photos with a wide spreading Sweetbox (Sarcococca hookeriana var humilis), sporelings of Japanese Painted and Sensitive ferns, and Strawberry begonias (Saxifraga stolonifera).
Narrow stone paths wind through the rear garden with an area of lawn (covering the septic system) that has been largely taken over by blue-flowered, creeping Mazus reptans.
Above and below, the lower circle patio is dug into the slope with boulder walls along the edges. Gaps between boulders are planted with coral bells (Heuchera) and a variety of ferns.
The lower third of the rear garden remains damp, but surface water has been channeled into depressions dug alongside the paths. Over the past year, the low areas have been planted with moisture tolerant perennials that are flourishing. Sometimes a little too much, and several overly vigorous irises that arch over paths will soon be divided.
The path and Hornbeam tunnel to the lower rear garden are obstructed by Joe Pye Weeds that have flopped after the recent rains. I must disappoint the swallowtails to prune the offending stems.The small rock garden was constructed when the small area of overly damp lawn was removed four years ago (above). It has quickly filled in (below).Irises and others in the damp lower rear garden have flopped over the path with overly exuberant growth. Several irises will be divided in the next few weeks.Plants at the edges of the koi pond are happily growing beyond my control. Several seedling hydrangeas have grown taller than ten feet, but they provide late summer flowers.I’ve had to make many changes to find plants that will survive humid summers and damp winters in the rock garden.The dark leafed, tropical Castor bean grabs the spotlight, but in the space between the greenhouse and summerhouse are also a variegated Wolf Eyes dogwood, a recently planted Wheel Tree (Trochodendron arailiodes) and a columnar Cupressina Norway spruce.Looking down slope to the rock garden and surrounding plantings.A few steps up the slope are several terrestrial orchids, tall Verbena bonariensis and Golden Falls redbud. What little order there was in the area was destroyed by the recent rains.At the top of the path from the driveway to the rear garden is the Whitewater redbud. Just below is a tropical Plumeria that will be dug and overwintered indoors. No flowers are evident on the plumeria but it has flowered non-stop through the summer.
Ramblin' through Dave's Garden 