‘Canyon Creek’ abelia (Abelia x grandiflora ‘Canyon Creek’) was planted long ago when there was plentiful space available in the lower rear garden and I hoped for vigorous growth to cover ground that demanded regular weeding. Today, the prized abelia is wedged between a much larger, columnar Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus ‘Tokyo Tower’, there are also three native fringetrees, Chionanthus virginicus in other areas of the garden) and an equally treasured ‘Magicien’ deutzia (Deutzia x hybrida ‘Magicien’). Such is the progression of decades of garden growth that little labor is now expended except between stones in the path.

The shaded abelia is not imminently imperiled. Rather than spreading, the abelia’s branches are now more upright with scattered branches of yellow foliage and pink summer flowers rising through the fringetree.  As leaves of the tree fall, the abelia and its somewhat evergreen foliage and calyces, still pink after flowers have faded, are at their most prominent, arching over a stone bench that is rarely cleared for seating.

Across the path, leaves of the pendulous branched ‘Elizabeth Lustgarten’ dogwood (Cornus kousa ‘Elizabeth Lustgarten’, above) are beginning to color as neighbors drop their leaves. Other Asian dogwoods in the garden occasionally show autumn foliage colors due to shading, but ‘Elizabeth’ is dependable. The  columnar ‘Snow Tower’ dogwood nearby gained enough height this year to stand above the tall mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum). The dogwood has numerous flower buds, so next year, it should contribute its vertical form across the path from the ‘Persian Spire’ parrotia (Parrotia persica ‘Persian Spire’).

The yellow stemmed ‘Bihou’ Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Bihou’, below) suffered similar damage to other Japanese maples as a result of a twenty-seven degree night in early May. While its did not recover the density of foliage, it grew substantially in height. From sparse beginnings when the weedy lawn was removed several years ago, the lower rear garden is now beginning to be overly congested, just as I like it.