I'm getting close to finishing my living maze, and it's looking better and better with the planting of each row.
This maze, which I started in the spring of 2022, is filled with lush perennials and evergreens - arborvitae, cedar, holly, juniper, yew, birch, spruce, linden, London plane, and many more. I've planted a variety of different trees, shrubs, espaliers, and hedges to add texture and interest. The area is all done according to a map of pathways - some ending abruptly at the end of a row, others leading to junctions where multiple passages meet, and only one right way to the selected finish. And as each puzzling path bed is cleared of sod, the spaces are measured and marked, the plants are carefully counted and placed, and then planted and thoroughly watered. It's been a very long four year process, but we're getting close, and I can't wait to share the completed maze with you soon. The most recent group of plants going in comes from Monrovia.
Enjoy these photos.
I’ve had to be very patient and careful in planting my living maze – there is a lot to do to create this three acre course. After careful measuring, each path is cleared of sod.
Here is one of the last sections of the maze all cleared.
Chhiring goes over the bed with our Troy-Bilt Pony Rear-Tine Tiller. Rototilling is one method of turning up the soil before planting. All the plants and trees do very well here at the farm, in part because of the excellent soil. I have worked very hard to ensure my soil is constantly amended and rich with nutrients. If you are unsure of your soil’s quality, have it tested. Kits are available at garden shops, online, and through your area’s cooperative extensions.
This conifer is Sparkler® Colorado Blue Spruce
Picea pungens var. glauca ‘MonWal.’ It features bright yellow-gold new growth in spring and then stunning blue-green mature foliage. Its pyramidal form is dense, slower growing and ideal for use as a windbreak or tall privacy screen.
This is JeanGenie™ Colorado Blue Spruce
Picea pungens ‘Moneva’ – a classic blue spruce with pyramidal form and a dense growth habit.
It shows off dramatic bright blue-green foliage and stands out among other greener specimens.
Among the latest specimens to be planted is a group from Monrovia. Hicks Yew Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’ is an excellent evergreen shrub for hedges. I have several rows of Hicks Yew.
The long, upright-growing branches with dense, glossy, dark green foliage naturally form a narrow, columnar habit that works well in my maze.
Holmstrup Eastern Arborvitae
Thuja occidentalis ‘Holmstrup’ thrives in full and partial sun. It is slow growing and reaches five to seven feet tall and three feet wide in 10 years.
It is densely branched, compact, naturally narrow, and has a neat, formal appearance.
And this is Feelin’ Sunny® Deodar Cedar
Cedrus deodara ‘Monkinn’ – a stunning plant with bright, golden yellow foliage.
My head gardener, Ryan McCallister, places each plant one by one carefully, strategically, and with thought on how it matures and how much space it needs.
After plats are placed, it’s time for the hole to be dug. Remember the rule of thumb for planting trees – dig a hole that is two to three times wider than the root ball, but only as deep as the height of the root ball.
Here, the hole is filled with water first. I instruct the team to fill the holes first with water to give the plants a strong start, improve root establishment, reduce transplant shock, and increase survival chances.
Don’t forget to always scarify – and stimulate new roots to grow.
Generous handfuls of fertilizer are dropped on the surrounding soil. Use food that promotes faster establishment, deeper roots, and good soil structure.
I use Miracle-Gro Shake’n Feed Flowering Trees & Shrubs plant food which has done so well for my plants. It contains natural ingredients such as kelp, earthworm castings, bone meal, and feather meal, which will feed the plant and maintain its deep, lush green foliage throughout the season.
Each tree is placed into its designated hole and then turned so its best side faces the path.
Another rule of thumb is “bare to the flare” meaning only plant up to the flare, where the tree meets the root system. This is the row of Skyrocket Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum ‘Skyrocket’ all planted.
Just a little more to go. Here is the last section ready for planting. It’s almost done. Keep following to see my finished maze!
Right now, it's so busy in my living maze - my gardeners and outdoor grounds crew are planting the last section and it's looking fantastic.
My maze is in a pasture that extends from outside my Winter House all the way down to my long Boxwood Allée. I started the three-acre course in the spring of 2022. Over the last couple of weeks, we've been working hard to mark the last rows, remove the sod, rototill the soil, select the plants, and get them into the ground. Everything is done according to a very precise map I created. Recently, the team planted some Green Wall Spire Crabapple trees, Malus x adstringens 'Jefwall,' from First Editions Shrubs and Trees.
Here are some photos.
Every day, trees and shrubs are selected and transported to the maze. This project is close to completion and my team is working very hard to finish.
I am very proud of how my maze is growing. And yes, like a true maze there is only one right way from the entrance to the goal location. Chhiring follows a very detailed diagram of where the rows will start and end. He measures everything multiple times, using twine to make sure everything is perfectly straight.
Here Chhiring cuts the sod according to plan. The sod is reused in other areas of the farm where needed. Nothing goes to waste.
Phurba rolls up the sod in small, manageable sections that can be lifted and moved. Sod can be very heavy. One standard roll can weigh up to 45 pounds.
Arnold uses a spade to scrape any leftover sod from the newly stripped area. If needed, the soil is also tilled.
Next to be planted are these Green Wall Spire Crabapple trees. These will grow to about 20 feet tall and five feet wide.
Green Wall Spire Crabapples are narrow, columnar trees that are great options for smaller spaces. They prefer full sun and are drought tolerant.
The foliage is glossy and green in summer, bronze in fall, and in spring, the tree is covered in white flowers. I wanted the maze to be filled with a large variety of interesting specimens, so there is something different at every turn.
Norman measures the distance between each crabapple trunk. He also measures the space on each side of the tree to make sure it is centered properly in the row.
Then, pressure is placed onto the pot to mark where the hole should be made.
… And the digging begins. Remember, when planting, always consider the climate zone, growth rate of the specimen, size at full maturity, and lighting needs.
Each hole is dug precisely, with enough room for the plant’s root ball. The rule of thumb when planting is to dig the hole two times as wide as the rootball and no deeper than the bottom of the rootball, similar to how it is in its pot.
And then the crabapple is placed into the hole to make sure it sits at the right height. The top of the root ball should be level with the top of the hole.
The tree is removed from the pot and the root ball is scarified. I teach all my outdoor grounds crew members how to scarify and make intentional cuts to stimulate new growth.
I always say, “if you eat, so should the plants.” Norman sprinkles plant food onto the root ball and the surrounding soil.
I use Miracle-Gro Shake’n Feed Flowering Trees & Shrubs plant food which has done so well for my plants. It contains natural ingredients such as kelp, earthworm castings, bone meal, and feather meal, which will feed the plant and maintain its deep, lush green foliage throughout the season.
The trees are placed into the hole and checked once again for proper placement – any adjustments can still be made.
Meanwhile, all the holes are watered. I instruct the team to fill the holes first with water before backfilling. This technique helps to improve root establishment, reduce transplant shock, and increase survival chances.
And then backfilling begins – remember, only plant up to the flare, where the tree meets the root system. Arnold also checks to make sure the tree is in line with the others.
It’s been warm and humid, so Arnold gives the plants another drink. It’s almost done, and all the trees and shrubs and other plants are thriving.
But there’s still a lot of work to do. Next… some evergreens!
Most of the garden tours at my farm are conducted in the spring and early summer. Yesterday, I welcomed a group of winners from an auction run by Wave Hill, the charming non-profit 28-acre public garden and cultural center in the Bronx, New York. Despite cloudy skies and light showers, the guided walk took them through my various gardens, groves, and allées. They learned a bit about the history of my farm, the many changes I've made over the years, and about the plants and trees they saw along the way. Following the tour, we all gathered for a pleasant lunch al fresco.
Enjoy these photos.
Every now and then I agree to guided tours of my farm to show guests what is blooming in the gardens. Here I am with Linda Walker, Ruth Melillo, Director of Horticulture at Wave Hill Cathy Deutsch, Michele Logan, Janet Mavec, and Clelia Biamonti.
The day was cloudy, but the temperature was pleasant and many of the gardens were filled with early summer growth. The tour started on my terrace parterre outside my Winter House kitchen where I welcomed the small group of six and started with a little introduction about the history of the farm and how it has evolved over the years. I also gave them a brief rundown of what they would see during a guided tour.
The group loved my weeping katsura. I have three of these beautiful trees around my Winter House. The weeping katsura is a deciduous ornamental tree known for its cascading branches, heart-shaped leaves, and vibrant seasonal colors.
My head gardener, Ryan McCallister, lead the morning tour. Here he is with Cathy and Janet.
One of the early eye-catchers was the climbing hydrangea on some of the sugar maples. Everyone was inspired by the beautiful flowering vines – which, if planted correctly, do not hurt the trees.
Ryan walked the group through my half-acre vegetable garden. They admired all the growing vegetables. Everything is doing so well.
They stopped at the brassicas and loved the lush green kale. I always grow such beautiful kale.
Ryan also led the group to my long Boxwood Allée. Some stopped to say hi to the donkeys in their pasture. This view is of my stable complex and courtyard, where I always display large potted plants during the warmer months. The trees on the left and right are horse chestnuts.
And no tour is complete without a stop at the bird enclosures. Here are two of my peacocks – with one perched showing his lustrous tail feathers.
Every garden tour is different depending on what looks best at the time. The group also stopped at the flower cutting garden down by chicken coops to see the Martha Stewart hybrid tea roses. My rose has large pink blooms, dark green foliage, and a most wonderful and sweet fragrance.
Ryan stops at various locations to point out specific plants and trees. He also answers many gardening questions. Here he is pointing out the climbing hydrangea on another tree.
This energetic sextet also walked under the weeping willows all the way to my pond.
Ryan guided the group through the Pin Oak Allée, Quercus palustris, which looks so full with its distinguishable lower, middle and upper branches – such a lovely collection of trees. Thee group could not believe I planted them when they were just about five feet tall.
The tour walked to the pool, where guests saw my antique staddle stones. Staddle stones were originally used in the 17th and 18th centuries as support bases for granaries, hayricks, and game larders.
Under my pavilion, I hang staghorn ferns during spring and summer. I grew them myself from pups and they’ve matured so excellently.
I always serve refreshments during my tours. It’s a nice break for my guests and a good time to answer any questions they may have about my farm. The handmade yew table under my pavilion was set for lunch. We had some light rain, but the cool breezes were comfortable and perfect for our light meal. Some asked what I do with all the flowers I grow. Aside from using them for various video and photography shoots, I always cut fresh flowers whenever I entertain.
Our lunch was prepared by Mast Market & Cafe, a local, organic grocery and café in Bedford, New York. It included green salad with a side of fresh avocado mash.
There were also fresh chicken salad sandwiches with freshly baked bread.
This is a plate of spring kale salad.
And for dessert, fresh watermelon slices.
… and of course, for everyone’s sweet cravings – cranberry oatmeal cookies and traditional chocolate chip.
It was a fun tour with a very fun, enthusiastic, and curious group of gardeners and garden admirers. Please visit the Wave Hill web site to learn more about its beautiful garden and how you can support it.
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