A Shift In Positioning!

Two years ago I could only gaze in rapt adoration at the wonderful large, palmate foliage of Diphylleia cymosa as it unanimously held centre court literally and figuratively in the centre of the Shaded Walk. Last year, after dividing it to share with S, a wonderful gardener from Elora, I noticed that I was tripping over it as I tried to navigate the near impossible to traverse pathway. [ Remembering my philosophy that if there’s room to step, there is room for another three plants!] I made a conscious effort to keep an eye where I was going and to try and step as lightly as possible when I simply had to maneuver my way past. This year I finally came to the conclusion that it needed to be moved! It is far to beautiful a plant to risk my pontoon sized shoes damaging the shoots before the foliage is able to unfurl.

I removed a sickly looking Cornus pumila from the right side of the Walk [though my heart and soul were in mourning, it had steadily deteriorated this past two years, and this Spring it was little more than a brittle stem. No signs of life!] and found myself with a bare spot. In my eyes that is akin to winning a lottery. I was amazed how many weeks the ‘gaping hole’ remained unfilled. I had a kazillion ideas as to what I would replace it with. In the end, I decided this would be the perfect spot for Mr. D! His bold foliage will provide the perfect foil for one of my most auspiciously positioned Meconopsis grandis plants – shelter from the hot scorching sun, with plenty of room to spread his love and attain the height he is known for! So now, I can almost traipse gaily along the Shaded Walk…… almost! I’m in the clear until I come across a rather statuesque Thalictrum ‘Elin’ that threatens to match my own height! Where do these damnable obstacles come from? That my dearheart is a perfect example of a rhetorical question! Where do they come from indeed!