Moss garden re-do

When we first moved to this house in 1994, I was not really allowed to garden much because we were doing pond construction first. Thus I could only work in areas after the rocks were set and the big equipment was done in that area. That's really how the moss garden was created. It was the only spot that was free for me to play in. When I realized the grass was growing so poorly in that location because there was moss, I started slowly pulling out the grass by hand. Over the years we made this garden more defined by creating and updating the path that circled the ancient apple trees that were planted when the house was built. 

2009

2014

After almost 20 years of the moss garden, I realized it was just too much of a maintenance hog. We decided we would create a "cloud hedge" of yew balls similar to the one we planted by the back fence. It would lower maintenance and relate this area to the larger garden with all its evergreen shrubs. As always, we tried to "visualize" the concept using cardboard circles as stand-ins for the yew balls.

2015

Before we had a chance to implement the above plan, we decided to replace our driveway and build a stone retaining wall and steps, all of which is described under "Driveway Project" in the categories list. That project meant moving a swath of plants 2 feet deep and about 60 feet long that were in the way of the big equipment if I wanted to save them. So we built temporary holding beds in the moss garden.

I became very smitten with Tom Stuart Smith's design for a Norfolk garden (images 7 & 8) that used Staghorn sumac trees, Hakonechloa macra and scattered Yew balls. I decided during the summer that that's what I would do once all the plants went back to the driveway border and new front garden. But instead I used the 15 Hakonechloa macra plants I'd bought to re-do the moss garden out in the new driveway garden where they have filled in fabulously (below).

2016

After using my Hakonechloa plants the previous fall, I went looking for other ideas and Roy Diblik came to the rescue. Mark decided he would build the covered Japanese waiting bench he'd always wanted to do and I would use Roy's "know maintenance" concept to help me come up with a plan. But from the moment I put plants in the ground the rabbits starting eating them down to the nub. And none of them made it through the winter in good enough shape to begin to make a statement. 

In the meantime, I talked Mark out of all the work it would take to make another Japanese-influenced building. Plus I was worried that a second structure would dilute the impact of the Tea House. All we really needed was the ability to sit and look across the pond to the Tea House and stream on the far shore. 

We decided to move the English garden bench that we've had since 1990 off of the deck and into the spot where we had planned to put the building. I suggested Mark use bamboo poles threaded through stakes to mark the path to the bench — a fencing technique we'd seen in 1998 at Wave Hill in the Bronx and photographed to remember. The bench now offers a perfect view of the pond and Tea House. I just have to come up with the perfect planting plan and put it in place and this area will be complete.

Tomorrow: Where I'm currently at with this mossy garden project.

Comments

[Lisa at Greenbow]

Your view is like a green quilt spread out on the back garden. So varied and textured. The Tea House is clearly set off. It sounds like Mark is itching to make something else. Maybe this winter he can make a Japanese style bench to set here. I can't wait to see the plants you use to bring together the moss garden site. It will need a new name too. :)

[Susie]

Gardens really do evolve to meet the needs of the garden.

[Linda Brazill]

Definitely a new name needed. Then again we are still referring to an area as the compost corner even though it has not been the site of the compost bins for at least ten years!

[Peter/Outlaw]

What a glorious view from the bench! Can't wait to see what you plant in the former moss bed.

[Erin @ The Impatient Gardener]

Thank you for that link to Tom Stuart Smith's design. I can see why you were taken with that design. It's phenomenal and incredibly inspiring and I want that! More than anything, I love your design posts. You are so talented and the opportunity to get into your head and understand the process is so interesting.

[Linda Brazill]

I loveTom's work and there are tons of pix on google. But somewhere he did say Hakonechloa sometimes just up and died and that could be a problem. I have had good luck with it once I got it established, so I am crossing my fingers.