When I first began gardening, I didn’t read about garden design concepts. I just went by what looked and felt right. This area of the courtyard garden is a perfect example of garden design mistakes. However, it doesn’t look too bad. But I do wish I would have done some things differently (the Japanese Maples are too happy for me to pull out now).
I first planted the “Red Pygmy” Japanese Maple and began pruning it before I knew how to prune. I continue to prune it awkwardly because it grows in front of the front door and into the other tree (pruning is a garden art that I still haven’t quite figured out). This tree would have been so beautiful if I hadn’t planted the other Japanese Maple right next to it, and if I hadn’t butchered it the first few years.
Why did I plant the other Japanese Maple so close to the Red Pygmy? Believe it or not, I even planted another Japanese Maple behind the Red Pygmy. I was trying to add more shade to the courtyard and achieve balance by planting green Japanese Maples on either side of the red Japanese Maple. I also didn’t think the Red Pygmy would grow as big. Now this area is completely off balance, and the Japanese Maples are growing into each other. At this point, I’m not going to transplant anything. Because this is the only area in our yard where I really worked on the soil before I planted, this is the healthiest and best-growing garden at our house. So, for now, I’m working to prune the Japanese Maples so that they grow nicely into each other. Maybe it will look like a creative garden designer planned it that way all along some day.
Another thing I learned from gardening in this area is to not make accessing areas too difficult for myself. Although I love the Camellia and Azaleas behind the Japanese Maples, I have to crawl under the trees to deadhead flowers, prune, and pull weeks. My body is getting too old for this!
The reason why I think this area still looks good is because of the way the Mondo Grass has filled in. I planted green Mondo Grass, black Mondo Grass, and miniature Mondo Grass. I also like the Cyclamen, which actually blooms most of the year.
For a gardening area in the future, I’d like to plant one Japanese Maple and make it the focal point. Then, I’d like to plant Camellias and Azaleas behind it—making them easily accessible though. And then I’ll plant Mondo grass and Cyclamen to fill in. Maybe some pretty rocks placed in strategic places would look nice too.
I love Mondo Grass. I like the constant green in the garden, and I like how it spreads by continuing to form distinct fountains of grass. This picture also shows the pink Azaleas, pink Cyclamen, and pink Camellia in bloom this winter. 
I especially like Black Mondo Grass. I’d like to have the Black Mondo Grass planted next to something blue. Although the contrast of the black against the pink Cyclamen is beautiful, it reminds me of all my pink and black outfits in the 80s.
