Tag Archives: Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Patches of Spring Color

“Spring Vignette”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Spring is a beautiful time in our Heatherwood Japanese garden. The various trees and shrubs blend together to provide a beautiful patchwork of colors. As I peek through the trees, my eyes take a circuitous route through the vignette. They first focus to the left on the bright pink of a Shin deshojo Japanese maple, then move up to the magenta of a flowering crabapple. They move to the right corner to see the deep purple of a Bloodgood Japanese maple and then down to the rhododendrons that are just about ready to burst in bloom. They next move up to the center to see the white flowers of a fothergillia. Finally they move up a little more and see the chartreuse of a Shigasura Japanese maple. I squint my eyes and see a blurred impressionistic patchwork of color.

The image above is from the most mature area in our Japanese garden. The flowering crabapple was here when I moved in during 2016. The first tree I planted in the garden in 2016 was the Bloodgood Japanese Maple. The following year, I received the Shin deshojo Japanese maple from wonderful friends. In 2018, I added the rhododendrons and the Shigasura. And then in 2019, we planted the fothergilla. Now after three years, we have an intriguing combination of colors, shapes, and textures.

Related Images:

Early Morning Light

“Yukimi and Waterfall”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Early morning light reflecting off the falling water and pond stopped me dead in my tracks during a stroll through our garden. My mind wanders. I notice how the little Yukimi watches over the fish in the pond and gazes at the sparkling waterfall as in turn the Akebono Cherry gently watches over the lantern.

Related Images:

The Redbuds Are In Bloom!

“Entryway Redbud”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Our redbuds are finally in bloom! This one brightens the entry to our Japanese garden as the morning light shines through the pathway. We have five different species scattered throughout the garden. Each one starts blooming at slightly different times.

In a few days, the crabapple behind and to the left of the redbud will be in full bloom. Together, they make a striking entrance to the spring garden!

Related Images:

Planting Plan

“Garden Entry Before 2022 Planting”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

We are starting day 3 of our 2022 planting project. We are currently planting in this area. Kinnikinnick will cover the foreground area, blue rug creeping junipers will cover the mid-ground area, and thyme will cover the areas close to the entry path. In two to three years most all of this barked area will be covered with vegetation.

Related Images:

A Favorite Perspective

“The Waterfall”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

I have posted several images of our Heatherwood Japanese garden waterfall over the last couple of years. This angle is one of my favorite perspectives. Last year, we built two stepping stone paths leading to this intersecting view point.

The sound of the falling water draws my attention up the hillside. My eyes stop and pause at the Kotoji lantern before they continue to move to the Mountain lantern where they pause again. After the pause, they move to the yellow Chief Joseph lodgepole pine and pink phlox and then back down to the lower waterfall. And then they start to make a counterclockwise move up and around the hill again.

Related Images:

Beautiful Spring Day

“Waterfalls and Pond”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

It’s a beautiful early spring morning. The sun came out and the clouds cooperated. Heatherwood beckoned me to come out and walk through the Japanese garden with my camera. I enjoy this perspective looking over the waterfalls up over the developing Japanese-style garden area. This area has been in place now for three years. The trees and shrubs are slowly growing along with the ground cover. Each year we have been and will continue to add ground covers, a few trees and shrubs, and other accent vegetation to enhance the garden. It will be a never ending evolution. Next week we start our spring planting!

Related Images:

Spring is Here!

“Yukimi & Siberian Iris”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Today is the first day of spring. Early spring bulbs including the Siberian iris and crocuses are in bloom. Daffodil chutes are poking up through the ground. Their blossoms are still a couple of weeks away. The forsythia is blooming along with the first blossoms of the star magnolias and the Cornelian Cherry dogwood. All of the grasses and perennials have been trimmed. The garden spring weeding has been completed. We will celebrate the first day of spring today by pruning our roses.

Related Images:

Ground Cover Impact

“Hillside Ground Covers”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

The above image illustrates what we are trying to do with ground covers throughout our Japanese-influenced garden area. As the garden matures, ground covers will fill in the majority of barked areas. They provide color and texture contrasts complementing the evergreen and deciduous shrubs. They soften the hard rocks as they grow around and over them. They change color from summer to winter providing special color highlights throughout the year. Ground covers are the focus of our 2022 Heatherwood landscaping project.

Related Images:

Fill In the Blanks

“West Bank”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

“Fill in the blanks” is the motto for our 2022 Heatherwood landscape projects. This section of our garden was constructed in 2019. The land was shaped and the base structure of trees and evergreen shrubs were planted. During the next two years additional trees, deciduous shrubs, and limited ground covers were planted to balance the structure and form the garden borders. This year our plan is to fill in the blank spots with various ground covers and just watch the garden grow. It is our vision to have the garden fully covered with various vegetation and understory shrubs shaded by a canopy of evergreen and deciduous trees. It will take years to achieve the vision. Patience will be a virtue as we enjoy watching the garden mature. We are planting for the future generation!

Related Images:

Late Winter Interest

“Japanese Maple”
Heatherwood Winter

There is still a lot of winter interest in Heatherwood. The skeleton structures of the Japanese Maples provide interesting winter forms. The reds, yellows, and greens of the evergreen plants provide highlights through the garden. Good weather is predicted through the first couple weeks of March. It’s time to get our and start our winter/spring clean-up and pruning.

Related Images: