Landscaping? Pondscaping? HA HA Escaping?
Today was the day to more closely monitor where the sun was at certain parts of the morning and afternoon. While we have a semi list we need to cohobate the accuracy of it. More importantly as the sun will be a major influence of placement of the two Fathers Day trees. Seems fair I got two trees for Mother’s Day…besides we are having a good time making this area pleasing. Ummmmmmmmmm maybe I should get a tie as well!
Yesterday was blistering insufferable weather wise but we managed to get some things accomplished. [ 95 degrees in the shade] Of course never as much as we would like to, but then you will have that. While plant placement is still up in the air for Sarah’s Pond there is activity on the other side of the house.
Re doing the Koi pond took much of the heavy labor yesterday. So that means I did other things as I am of little use in that area of work. At this point the re location of some rocks is sure looking good and LEVEL is the word we LOVE to hear.
All the water plants are temporarily housed in Sarah’s pond until the pond is ready for the season. Major rock moving makes me cry in horrific pain, even as I only watch. My Sweetie and our youngest son used a Carpenter's level. The best part of that is when they tied every angle and it all came up perfrct. They sure were happy.
This morning as I weedeated my Sweetie moved rocks to begin the completion of the upper Koi Pond. The temperatures [ low 60’s] today are extrodinary in terms of working outside. The new Weeping Cherry Tree [Prunus subhirtella 'Pendula' ] and the Acer palmatum ‘ Butterfly’ [Butterfly Japanese Maple] are still sitting in their containers by Sarah’s Pond. We await not only the sun to determine finaly placement but raking the additional dirt to level up one area beside this pond.
Note: This particular Acer is an excellent tree as an accent or specimen. Works well in large pots as a patio tree. Great around water gardens. Also Butterfly's Japanese name is 'Kocho no mai,' which also refers to a type of dancing girl, and when breezes ruffle the leaves, you can see how the name suggested itself. The movement of the foliage is truly eye-catching and distinctive -- lovely to glimpse through a window or gaze upon from the patio! I think that is so neat.
We were making great progress until the rain thwarted our outside endeavors. But we are not complaining, as we sorely need the rain. There is always another day and our bodies need the rest. I did manage to get some plants in before the rain, so a start is a good thing. Besides I ran out of mulch…
4 comments:
I bought a tiny 1 year graft of a A. palmatum 'Butterfly' a couple of years ago. It's a fairly slow grower and is still only a couple of feet tall at the most but you can see that it will be a lovely tree. I saw a bigger specimen at a nursery about 4-5 feet tall. They wanted too much money for it but I got to see what a bigger tree was like. It maintains its tiny leaves even when it gets bigger. A very nice tree for your pond.
We have about 5 A. palmatums around the larger pond along with a couple of pines. Though the trees are small they do give the pond a small amount of much needed shade and character. The trees are: Seiryu, Beni Otake (big red bamboo), a weeping red (can't remember the cultivar), Beni kawa, and a common green acer.
I have always enjoyed the Japanese Maples and until this project never really looked into the many varieties. We, my Sweetie and I liked the fact that it was variegated and as you pointed out a slow grower. According to the information we have the max height will be 12 feet, which is perfect, we think for the new pond. I also like the gracefulness of this tree.
The Weeping cherry is just so delightful in the other two locations we have it and we feel sure that next spring the flowers will certainly add to the looks and gentleness that we hope to achieve in this area. On the other side of the DREEN are 4 other trees. A Cart Fagus sylvatica,Fagus grandiflora [ Purple Fountain Beech] and Tri-colored Beech.”[ Fagus sylvatica 'Roseomarginata']. So in a few years the combinations of varied colors and graceful splendor will come to be. HA we hope. Check the post A Two Fagus Day, May 14 for more detail.
So many trees we like. The Weeping Mulberry and the Ginkgo come to mind…fro starts!
Again thanks for your input.
Just be careful that you don't plant trees around the pond that will be too messy unless you don't mind scooping flowers, fruit and leaves out of the pond.
My wife was irritated when I went on a Japanese maple binge. She's since come around and encourages me to buy larger trees at end of year sales which I gladly oblige. She loves the graceful quality of the trees and lovely colors in the spring and fall. I find that it's not easy to prune a JM though. Very difficult to pick out branches to cut off. Everything seems so precious. Knowing that it's good for the tree doesn't make pruning easier.
You have many great trees. We also just bought a Fagus sylvatica 'Purple Fountain' and we've had a F. sylvatica 'Rontundifolia' a small tree with small round leaves for many years. Beeches are great. I especially like the common beech S. grandifolia in winter when it retains its light tan leaves contrasting with the light gray trunk. The tree trunk reminds me of elephant legs. We also have a ginko but took out our common white mulberry tree because it was too messy and dropped its fruit into the small pond.
Good luck with all your plantings and ponds. I look forward to seeing photo updates on how things are progressing.
So you like trees too, neat. The Gingko and the mulberry I mentioned are way in the future and nowhere near the pond we are developing. As for the Beech I had seen a Tri Colored @ three years ago and found the leaves quite stunning. The following year I was prepared to purchase it, but it had been sold. Which in retrospect was a good thing because we had not decided to re try Sarah’s Pond. All things in good time seems to prevail, which is a good thing.
Last fall when we finally decided to jump into REALLY getting Sarah’s Pond accomplished, I located another Tri Colored. While there I noticed this totally funky tree, the Purple Fountain. I was so entranced as I speculated the intimate little rooms. So to speak it would have when it had more size on it.
I have found that some of the areas we develop seem to be “room” gardens. For instance a mowed area with small path invites someone to explore. Then on a turn one sees a tree or a clump of flowers that lure the person to walk further. Not totally a “Secret Garden” but somewhat that concept.
My Sweetie and I have almost decided the Weeping Cherry will be well back of the pond for the very reasons you mentioned. Plus our concern on the massive root system that in time might undermined the pond. How ever the Butterfly Maple is slower to mature and will not be as tall and the root system on it is less involved. But there is still time to change our minds, as we still need to move some flagstone before we actually plant the trees. Sometimes slow progress gives way to changes that do not involve manual labor, but better mental gymnastics.
Photo updates to be sure, and by the by, Tree Peeper spied in the established lilac at the pond. Need to re take picture. Her eyes are amazing.
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