35. Center Garden

A dozen Japanese Maples added to our very own Parson’s Garden.

The center garden on our property is inspired by a place called Parson’s Garden in Seattle.

So what makes Parson’s Garden so special?

The place is magical. A little patch of grass surrounded by beautiful, lush trees and shrubs right in the middle of the city. We used to live in a small condo down the street, and this place was our retreat.

Formerly the family garden of Reginald H. Parsons, the park was given to the City in 1956 by the family's children. Often used for ceremonies, this small but lovely garden is a hidden gem on Queen Anne's south slope.

Once I realized that the area of our circular lawn is roughly the size of the lawn at Parsons Gardens, I knew I wanted to recreate some of that magic! It is going to take a long time, but at least we have a great precedent for inspiration.

I started with the privacy screen for the guest house last year — a mix of evergreen cryptomerias and arborvitae. An now, I added a dozen Japanese maples after finally making my pilgrimage to Celestial Maples in Gig Harbor, such a great shop; although I ended up buying many of my maples on-line from Mr. Maple, also great.

We also had some losses in the last year, due to deer rut — urgh, deer!! They destroyed so many plants this past fall, and in the privacy screen they severely damanged nearly all of the Cryptomeria Sekkan Sugi’s. I am trying to resuscitate the little nibs that are left, but I am not too optimistic. I replaced one of the Cryptomeria sites with three Wichita Blue Junipers.

Before:

After:

Plant Details:

• Japanese Maple Bloodgood (JMBG) x2

  • Height: 15 to 20ft

  • Width: 15 ft

  • Sun: Filtered Sun, Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Leaf type: Lobed, broadleaf

  • Leaf color summer: burgundy

  • Leaf color fall: brilliant scarlet

• Japanese Maple Mikawa Yatsubusa (JMY)

  • Height: 4 to 5 ft

  • Width: 4 to 5 ft

  • Sun: filtered

  • Leaf type: Lobed, broadleaf

  • Leaf color summer: chartreuse

  • Leaf color fall: bright red

• Japanese Maple Seiryu (JMSR)

  • Height: 8 ft (up to 20 ft at 20 yrs)

  • Width: 5 ft

  • Sun: filtered Sun, Sun, Partial Sun

  • Leaf type: Dissectum = laceleaf, deeply cut, feathery

  • Leaf color summer: chartreuse

  • Leaf color fall: bright red

• Japanese Maple Acer shirasawanum Autumn Moon (JMA) x2

  • Height: 7ft

  • Width: 4 ft

  • Sun: Filtered Sun, Sun, Partial Sun

  • Leaf type: Lobed, broadleaf

  • Leaf color summer: chartreuse

  • Leaf color fall: orange

• Japanese Golden Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’ Golden Full Moon (JMM) x3

  • Height: 6ft

  • Width: 4 ft

  • Sun: Part Shade

  • Leaf type: Lobed, broadleaf

  • Leaf color spring: yellow

  • Leaf color summer: yellow-green

  • Leaf color fall: orange

• Japanese Maple Hogyoku (JMH)

  • Height: 8ft (up to 20 ft in 20 years)

  • Width: 5 ft

  • Sun: Sun or Shade

  • Leaf type: Lobed, broadleaf

  • Leaf color summer: green

  • Leaf color fall: yellow & orange

• Japanese Golden Ryusen Weeping (JMR)

  • Height: 6 ft

  • Width: 3 ft

  • Sun: Sun or Shade

  • Leaf type: Lobed, broadleaf, palmate

  • Leaf color summer: green

  • Leaf color fall: red

• Japanese Maple FireGlow (JMF)

  • Height: 10 - 15 ft

  • Width: 8 ft

  • Sun: Sun or Shade

  • Leaf type: Lobed, broadleaf, palmate

  • Leaf color summer: orange - red

  • Leaf color fall: bright red

Looking back at my first guest house privacy screen post, my next step was to add a few Japanese Maples — done! My next, next step, is to keep adding layers on all sides of the circle.