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"Ruby Falls" Redbud
The Redbud saga continues....
My first Redbud saga is on this page: Forest Pansy Redbud.
One day, the gentleman who sells us roses came to see the garden. He sadly shook his head and said, "that tree will not make it through another winter".
Of course, he just happened to have one in his nursery to replace it. He explained that our tree is rated for USDA zone 6 (which in Canada can translate to zone 7) - a whole 2 zones beyond our 5a)
The one he had was a zone 4... and... it was weeping.
Even better, it had 2 parents: Forest Pansy Redbud and the Eastern Redbud - and called "Ruby Falls".
This was exciting.
Mulling over the cost of another tree, we made the decision when he sent a photo... it was perfect.
Now... where do we put it?
We had already decided we needed a focal point to stop the eye from seeing the whole garden at once while standing at the top of the stairs. (see the red oval)... and we had also decided we needed a weeping burgundy tree where the curved red line is to the left.
We put in a small pond last fall, and needed to finish around it. One more project to fit into the whole garden design.
And we wanted an arbour first.
Here it is, in place..
.. already drawing the eye toward the back of the garden.
We purchased this from a wedding planner's stock... it was perfect.
Next, the pond and a fountain, salvaged from the reject heap behind a nearby garden centre.
We extended the beds around the arbour, ready for pea-gravel paths and placed the big turquoise ball on the spot we thought for the new Redbud.
We looked at it for a few days while we waited for it to be delivered.
Looking from behind, gave us a different vantage point.
We were ready to start digging.
We knew, because of the recent renovation construction, the soil would be hard-packed clay and the huge Black Walnut looming overhead was moisture greedy.
But we dug the hole at least a foot wider and deeper than needed and mixed in compost,
The tree had not been potted long so it was not root-bound and the soil fell off when we took it out of the pot.
(See how to plant a tree - here)
Here it is in all its glory in its new home.
"Ruby Falls" Redbud: Cercis canadensis 'Ruby Falls'
Grown in Canada- with rich purple, heart-shaped leaves that open a bright ruby-purple in the spring and gradually mature to a deep purple and then change to dark green as the season progresses.
We gave it a deep watering every day for the first week, then every two days for another week and then once a week.... now that we are in a heat wave and the hottest week of the year, we give it a deep watering every other day... holding the hose at the root and making a 2 foot circle around it for at least 10 minutes.
Creating a lip to hold water, encircling the tree, will encourage the roots to seek the water away from the initial root ball and form new small microscopic roots that find the nutrients it needs.
Planted the end of June, it is now a month and so far, so good.
The new beds are in and planted.
The pond has a fountain.
This is the look we intended. Dividing the garden and making the eye look through the arbour to the back garden.
Looking down to the new garden from the deck above. The paths are in, the Redbud is happy and the new beds are planted.
The swath of green grass soothes the eye and provides contrast to the colour and texture in the gardens.
,,, and six years later...
