A pair of ancient birch anchor the southeast corner, green pots hold hosta elagans Astilbes, Japanese painted ferns and the enthusiastic Bishop’s Weed fills in any bare spots.

Slightly to the west, sword fern fronts a large hydrangea.

Continuing west Japanese anemones threaten to smother male ferns and surround a small clump of hellaborus niger. After niger begins to fade in late winter, the rhododendron loderi venus looming behind sends out new buds that gradually swell with huge pink blossoms in spring.