The purple foliage of a Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea 'Crimson Velvet') had grown over the small pond which is at the top of the slope. It was obscuring the view to the gardens below and was removed in June. We also removed a golden Japanese Falsecypress from the right side of the pond to open up the view even more.


After the photo was taken, a brightly variegated Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia 'Golden Shadows') with a horizontal branching habit was planted on the slope beyond the pond to replace the beautiful European Elder (Sambucus nigra 'Madonna') which had died the year before. Hostas and other shade plants will be planted along the edges of the pond in 2009.