Why I Oughta...

This is another update on some shrubs that went in the ground in that epic Fall Planting cycle of October 2023.  Evergreens, like the Montrose Charm and Weeping Norway Spruce trees that I updated here in the [garden diary] the past two days.  But, this post is about evergreen shrubs.  Specifically, three Green Velvet Boxwoods that went in alongside the garage on the northside of our house .   If there is anything that I've planted in our garden that I have neglected the most, it might be these three Boxwoods.   They're now on their third growing season and I haven't once thought about them.  Other than to remove the carcass of the dead pair of dogwood tries that I tried in this spot.  Looking back at the photos showing those trees , I was on to something.  The big, blank white wall needs to be filled in some way.  (More on that in a separate post.) These three Green Velvet Boxwoods started their life as tiny, one-gallon shrubs....

The small, linear bed that is up against the foundation of our garage received some attention last year with the planting of three 1# Green Velvet boxwoods  and  a pair of Kousa Dogwoods that I'm going to espalier against the house.  This bed has been home to a bunch of orphans - including some Ostrich Ferns, hostas and the various Coral Bells that I've planted in containers and transplanted into this bed at the end of the growing season.  ( Note to self:  lay off Heucheras going forward, they just don't perform that well for me .) Historically, this has been a VERY informal bed, but my goal with the boxwoods were to add a little bit of structure, winter interest and formality to the garden.  This is 'on the way' to our backyard, so is viewed by anyone who 'comes back' via the gravel pathway. In the photo below, you can see the boxwood evergreen shrub that has managed the winter just fine, but you'll also note a clump of moss that we stuck into the soil...