I moved some things around today.
The Aruncus dioicus, goatsbeard, has not done well out by the creek bed. It has been there a couple seasons, and does not grow. Leaves are scorched. So I dug it up and moved it to the back of the Birch Garden.
The back of the Birch Garden is never seen, unless you walk around behind. It's kind of an empty spot and has always been a problem to fill. I'll see if the goatsbeard will grow there, in a little more shade perhaps.
We'll see. If not, it will come out and something else can fill the area behind this garden.
Then, in the vacated area by the creek bed I put in a dwarf Alberta spruce that had been sitting in a large pot on the deck. Pam gave me this, and I didn't know where to put another dwarf Alberta. I think this spot is perfect.
I have always struggled with how the Meadow's Edge Garden and creek bed blend into the wild meadow beyond. I think the dense, landscapey solid form of the spruce makes a definite statement, especially with the hardscape of the bed and bridge --- this is the end of the tended garden. The wild is beyond.
I am not a fan of dwarf Alberta spruces, but I have them along the foundation, as everyone does. They hide the utilities along the west side of the house.
This use of the little cone out in the far garden actually pleases me. The contrast of the dense dark shape punctuates the small leaves of the jumble of meadow plants. It looks intentional.
I actually like the foundation spruces better too. They are filling in, and once again they offer wonderful contrast in shape and density to the small jumbled leaves around them. Dwarf Alberta spruces look good as a foil to other plants, but they look lumpy and uninteresting by themselves.
