While Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) is indisputably the favorite of pollinators, it is another month before it begins flowering. So, what flowers do pollinators depend on until that time? Today, the answer is a single Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia, above and below) beside the koi pond patio. There are several more oakleafs in the garden,…

Flowers of Crested (Iris cristata, below) and Siberian irises (Iris sibirica) have faded, and today the many Japanese irises are nearing their peak. All are exceptionally easy, with Siberian and Japanese irises particularly useful for planting in clay and damp soils. Sadly, glorious Japanese irises (Iris ensata) that were planted in gaps between boulders surrounding…

Trees provide the structure in this tree-packed garden. They’ll be here forever, or at least for decades. Until they’re not, and sadly, today the cherished Bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla) is gone. In fact, it’s still here, but it’s lying on the ground with its roots above ground. I remember the day. It was mid-July thirty-some…

Several revisions have been made this spring to the earlier spring revisions of the side garden. That’s how it goes, not all the time, but I wasn’t quite satisfied with the outcome the first time around, so changes had to be made. At this point, I hardly remember what was here that was torn out…

I’m overjoyed that recent storms have at least temporarily broken our lengthy drought, but high winds have broken heavily weighted branch tips of the bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla) and a tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) that borders the garden. Both trees are relatively soft-wooded and prone to damage, but both are marvelous trees. If such a…

The purple-leafed European beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’) was planted in the front garden soon after our family moved into the house. Good thing, since it grew imperceptibly for years, but today the tree is massive. No matter his plant knowledge, it is difficult for the gardener to imagine the space occupied by a sixty or…

The property for our home and garden was selected because of the short front and deep back yard that is bordered by forest. In addition to wanting a deep, private rear garden, the short driveway to limit snow shoveling was a consideration. The rear garden is shielded from view by trees and large evergreens, with…

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…

Sadly, the large dogwood (Cornus florida) in the front garden appears to be fading from its partial measure of good health. While the tree has survived for decades, it has long been plagued by the many maladies common to the native dogwood. Late summer powdery mildew, black spotting, and cankers must diminish the health of…

Damage from the twenty-five degree night several weeks ago continues to become evident. No plants were killed or severely damaged, but today there are only scattered blooms on the yellow-leafed deutzia (Deutzia gracillis Chardonnay Pearls, below). A few dead branch tips must be pruned, but a week of splendid white flowers were lost. I suppose…

The Bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla, below) is flowering, somewhere up there, and unfortunately, I can no longer see the blooms with the lowest branches twenty feet up. Branches have been lost as shade in the area has increased from the neighboring forest but also from trees I’ve planted. Of course, this is another in an…

As I do every year, I must not miss the opportunity to highlight the various cold hardy orchids in the garden. Reluctant as I am to purchase expensive small plants, I was somehow convinced years ago to purchase several terrestrial orchids (Bletilla striata, below). The sum now seems a pittance while the orchids have multiplied…