What was I thinking?

What was I thinking?  Why did I do that?  I put so much thought into what flowers, plants or shrubs will go where. I  imagine, draw out, and research how they will perform and what type of scene they will display.  And after all that, why, a season or two later do I stand back, gazing at the results of my painstaking efforts, scratch my head and think to myself;

'Annabelle' Hydrangea too close to the hose

"What in the world was I thinking?

For instance - why did I put the side hose so close to the Hydrangea bushes?  They were probably mere twigs when this happened (I dug up 4 puny pieces from a one of my clients' backyards), but I had to know they would grow!

Now it is a constant battle to unwind the hose while trying to NOT decapitate the hydrangea blooms.  I also planted 'Karl Forester' grass in front, obviously I was trying to shield the view of the AC unit which is on the other side of the white fence. The grass is pretty forgiving of the heavy hose plopping down on top of it.  However, it is not thriving in the spot.

LESSONS:
1. The partnership of the Annabelle and Karl Forester is not a good one.  Not worthy companions

2. This mostly sunny spot is ideal for Hydrangeas, not grasses

3. Be more thoughtful of my hose access.  Hydrangea needs to be moved. A job for Spring 2018

Not far from this scene is another partnership not working out very well.  Last year I was in Oklahoma with my mother and I bought some Canna's that I could not find in my part of Illinios.  I just liked the name of them (which I have now forgotten).   I planted the bulbs late in the season and did not water them nearly enough.  Assuming they had not survived I did not dig them out in the fall.  This year, they came back.  Surprise! Surprise!  I guess if they are planted close enough to the house foundation I don't need to retrieve them in the fall??  Also, late last summer I chopped down and relocated my Tiger lilies.  Again, I was not sure that they survived my lack of attention.
The Cannas and the lilies came back this year, but they do not compliments each other at all.  Someone has to move.

'Tiger Lily' Lilium lancifolium and Canna (no name)

If this is the time of confession, I might as well come clean.  I've killed a beautiful unique Japanese maple.  It makes me sick to my stomach.  I loved this tree.  I bought this directly from a grower at a garden show.  He told me there were very few of these, and they were somewhat new to the market.  'Illinois Sunrise' Japanese maple.  It was lovely.

Dead 'Illinois Sunrise' Japanese Maple and Impatiens with hostas

 I placed this heavy sucker in my garage over the winter and brought it out again late in the spring, just as instructed.  I put the pretty little Impatiens at the base to help show off it's colors; same thing I did last year.  It was healthy and a perfect addition to my shade garden.
This Spring the leaves started to curl, and within a week it looked like this.
The only thing I can think of is my fertilizer.  I took the liquid Miracle Grow fertilizer and hooked it up to my hose to give the garden a Spring feed. It was shortly after that the leaves started to turn.
I have not read anywhere that a one time feeding of such a basic fertilizer would have such an impact on the maple.  But I don't know what else it could have been.
I was so proud of this find.  I saw a photo of a garden with a Japanese maple in a blue pot, and this was my 'copycat' scene.
I am afraid to buy a replacement because I don't know what I did wrong.  I have not used that feeder since.

Do you have those pieces in your garden, that aren't the prettiest thing, but you are so proud of how you found it, you can't part with it?  This is one of mine.  This plant stand is falling apart, but I love it.  The heart wants what the heart wants!  Am I right?  But even though I love it, I can't find the perfect spot for it.  It's falling apart so I'm loathe to try and move it again. I am determined to make it work.......Next year.  This years attempt failed.  The liner is too small and the annuals are all wrong.
This post is to remember what I did wrong, so I can try something new.

Garden plant stand with Coleus and 'Silver Falls' Dichondra

One more item added to the Learned Lesson file.  'Frosty Morn' Sedum.  I love it because it's tall, fall blooming, variegated and not all that common in my area.  I am a bit of a snob when it comes to 'EVERYONE has that one.'

I have major flopping happening here.  This year year is worst than last.  I even caged them to keep 'em upright, but they are not flourishing.  My guess is not enough sun, even though other "full sun" labeled selections are doing will, my sedum is not.  This is a hybrid, so I realize it may be more sensitive.  I read that it does not like organic material, and if too much mulch gathers around their center, they will flop.  I will cut a few of the stalks, root them and replant, as well as dig up the entire plant and relocate to another sunnier spot.  This is one of my hubby's favorite specimens, and cannot find it locally, so I MUST KEEP IT ALIVE!!

This concludes this edition of things I need to do differently.  I hope to be able to proved before and after photos next year, if I can get it right!!