Question: I am about to purchase a new home. The size of back yards in the developement is quite small,i.e. 25'x55'. I'm thinking of using all or most of this space for a japanese or other 4 season planting and garden.
Can you suggest resources for planning to me? I find when I ask at the nursery or plant shops, they always recommend plants and shrubs that they have available.
Answer: We got most of our ideas for the planning from books found in our public library and the OSU library. Stillwater is the Sister City to Kameoka, and they have supplied some very resourceful books to the public library here. As far as plant material goes, I can only pass on to you what we are trying in our Japanese Garden. I hope this is helpful. We have located some of our plant material from Bear Creek Nursery in Eureka Springs.
Japanese Boxwood
Japanese Painted Fern
Japanese Black Pine
Mugo Pine
Mondo grass
Variegated Monkey Grass
Sweet Flag
Ajuga
Black Bamboo (you will have to contain this or it will become invasive)
Laurentia (ground cover)
Small limestone gravel to simulate water