Life in the secret garden

Here’s the front border in all four season–

Spring, with narcissus Thalia and May Wonder Tulips, brightening the rising perennials.

Summer, with the band of daisies, meadow rue, perennial geraniums, and white malva showing off against the greenery.

Fall with the confetti of falling leaves decorating the border and lawn.

Winter with a rare dusting of November snow.  The birch bark gleaming white against the evergreen shrubs and the rocks that anchor the bed are visible.

Life in the secret garden

This is my favorite of the Japanese maples. There’s no cultivator name to go with it, because it grew from a volunteer seedling. I love volunteers.

Back to the maple, the small tree (ten to twelve feet high so far) has no drawbacks. It looks good all year round, but every autumn it puts on the show you see above. It brightens even rainy days–good thing–that’s what we have around here.

Life in the secret garden

This is one of my favorite fall color corners. From left to right–the yellow leaves belong to Rugosa Rose Blanc Double de Coubert, deep red leaves belong to Hamamelis Diane( witch hazel), and the peach/coral is Acer Cernatum (native vine maple).

Though it looks like a rather immature hazelnut tree all summer long, Witch Hazel, especially Diane, is cherished as a fragrant winter bloomer, and rightly so. But, I don’t understand why no mentions the spectacular autumn foliage. The ruby red leaves really stand out in the fall.

The rugosa pictured is equally neglected as a fall color spot. Summer time it has deep green, healthy, and faintly pleated leaves. Not to mention wonderful double white flowers with a perfume that makes passer-bys linger inhaling deeply.

One member, or another, of the maple family anchors a lot of my favorite plantings. In this group the vine maple, is no trouble whatsoever and contributes to the garden all year round. Spring leaves are fresh little buds of bright yellow-green, summer it’s a nicely shaped shrub with little red helicopters decorating every twig, fall the leaves turn lovely coral shades, and winter it has interesting grayish bark.