The weather is starting to warm up now and thoughts of spring planting are warming up as well. We completed the basics of landscaping the backyard last summer. We left some areas unplanted due to the heat and a good thing it was too, as we experienced about a 30% die off of the plants. I think some of the grasses are simply dormant and may yet come back, but some of the plants are not only merely dead, but really most sincerely dead. One result of this was a bare spot under the new pergola.
This is one of Tex's most favorite spots to warn off would-be intruders, he takes this job VERY seriously and makes regular security checks all day long. The butterfly bush I originally planted here didn't stand a chance and was quickly trampled to death.
After staring at this spot for the thousandth time I was finally struck by inspiration and realized we needed a big, shade tolerant, sturdy feature in this spot.
- big = tree
- shade tolerant = Japanese maple tree
- sturdy = Japanese maple tree in a giant pot (Tex proof)
And thusly we set off to visit the local nurseries in search of the above item. After checking out a couple of local nurseries, we settled on a
Japanese Maple variety named
"Seiryu" which we purchased from the very helpful lady at
Sweet Pea Nursery in Vacaville. Along with the tree we also got what I believe must be the most beautifully packaged dirt and fertilizer ever made.
I sure hope our new little tree appreciates all the organic goodness we spread around it.
All together and looking fine in it's new home. Below is what we hope it will look like come Fall.
