A Bit of Snow

Now that there are a few inches of snow covering the labyrinth, the pathways are obscured, and the only structure is provided by plants still visible above the snow.

The first picture is taken from the same place as the picture in the previous post.  The sense of flow and pattern that is provided by the lines of the flower beds in the grass has disappeared.  The mixed shrub hedge at the back of the labyrinth is visible, as is the hedge along the road on the right side.  But the rest of the bushes and grasses appear to be randomly scattered around. This shows the need for a good sized evergreen near the entrance of the labyrinth, in the large expanse of snow in the front right corner of the photo. 

From a different angle, also matching a shot from the previous page, some more of the nascent patterns are visible. There is the distinctly curving line of the boxwood, planted in the Spring of 2009, that flow into the herb section.  Even the back boundaries are more clearly marking the edges.  As all of these evergreens grow more together, closing the gaps, they will provide much more structure for the whole garden.

Yet, we do not plan to fill all beds with evergreens or grasses.  That would be too formal, and would crowd out the many perennials that create their own textures and colors during most of the year.  Seeing it this way is both startling and refreshing.  The dominant pattern is eliminated by a very light layer of snow.  .

Finally, here is some "inside snow," the snow village that David creates from pieces he has collected over the years.  The fences are made out of toothpicks when he was sick as a child.  This is a small part of the eight foot long strip that wraps around the corner of the kitchen.  His hope is that it is high enough to be out of the reach of his soon-to-arrive grandson, Sam.  But, there is a tall stool that sits nearby, so we will see!

Merry Christmas to you all!

Stripped to the Bones

It is currently snowing outside, covering the whole yard with a thin layer of cover.  However, I am only speaking in the abstract, since I am nowhere near the garden.  I only know about the snow because of a reliable source.  Maybe I will be able to get some pictures in a few days, if there is any snow left. This is how the labyrinth looked the last time I saw it.

With most of the herbaceous foliage gone, the tree, evergreen shrubs, and tall grasses are visible.  The shape of the labyrinth paths is much more visible.  Working with the photograph, trimming the top of it down to reduce the dominance of the two neighboring yards, white fences and houses, I became aware of the still young, low growth of the mixed hedge at the back edge.  The Pencil Hollies, Chesapeake Hollies, Inkberry Hollies, and False Holly (Osmanthus) have all done well, but it will be a few more years before they create the privacy screen for people walking the labyrinth.  Did you notice that list of hollies?  Hollies grow well in our climate, while seeming to be untouched by the deer of the area.  A few years ago while selecting plants for my parent's house near Cincinnati, I was told deer were eating the hollies!  I hope the local ones never get that craving, or I am in deep trouble!

This is the beginning of the season to examine the garden bones, that permanent structure.  Without the distraction of foliage and flowers, the place, size and relationship of each remaining plant can be considered. Winters past have shown problems of evergreens too close to each other, or the need for something solid to define a space.  Each position creates a different relationship, an ongoing challenge in a garden in which people will see it from all sides.

This picture shows a number of different things.  The now-bare Katsura tree in the center, immediately behind the tall grass on the right side, no longer screens parts of the labyrinth from the house across the road.  Don't get me wrong, our neighbors are nice people and good friends.  But many different trees and shrubs are placed to create a sense of privacy without totally closing out views.  If someone is using the labyrinth for prayer and meditation, they need some sense of separation and isolation.

In the same way, the Inkberry hedge along the road, even while it is only three feet high and not very dense, keeps the road from intruding.  As it matures, it will be pruned to maintain a height of less than six feet, so it stays as a divider but not a solid wall.

Some new evergreens, like the newly planted boxwood hedge, seen in the middle of the second photo as seven green blobs, are still too small to know how they will function.  The intention is for the hedge to separate and enclose that back corner, a contrast to the open and view oriented section in the front of the photo.

A decision already has been made to find and plant a dramatic evergreen in the center of the rounded off bed in the front of the first photo.  There was a dwarf smoke bush in the place of honor, but it did not provide the presence that prime position required, so it was moved in October.  Next spring all of the nurseries will be scrutinized to find something deserving full 360 degree attention!