Herb, ask the Bamboo Forum, they know their darlings.I think it would look very nice in your garden. I just got my first bamboo clamp too, I will keep it in a big pot.
Andrea

I dont know Herb, it looks a bit overwhelming in that corner..

{{gwi:1005801}}

Sue -

Yes, I see what you mean. It doesn't look quite small or delicate enough. On the other hand, I can't be sure that the bamboo picture is on the same scale as the garden corner picture.

Now that I think about it, we have to have our dead Arbutus (Madrone) tree in the front yard removed soon, and bamboo might be just the thing to replace it.......

I think I'll probably do what I've sometimes done with other plants - put it in a pot and stand the pot where I have in mind planting it out. After it's sat there for a while and grown a bit, you often get a better idea of whether it's going to be suitable.

Herb

The culms(stalks) are fairly spread out, so it's either a runner or a very open clumper. Looks like a phyllostachys, possibly a "crookstem" since the lower culms on some are crooked. Consult the bamboo forum and the experts will give you an id.

I actually have a similar layout as what Davissue posted, using phyllostachys nigra(black bamboo) and aurea(golden bamboo) instead and irish moss ground cover minus the big rocks. So essentially an island in a sea of pebbles. I installed a 60 mil 28 inch deep plastic rhizome barrier to prevent any headache down the line with the neighbor.

lwac

After thinking about the 'crookstem' bamboo, it seemed best not to use it in this spot.

Instead I looked for something more delicate-looking & while chatting to another customer at a nursery, learned that he had some black bamboo (Phyllostachyis nigra) in pots that he had for sale. I bought some from him the next day.

It took a few days to dig a suitable hole, and sink a barrier in it to discourage runners & add some accoutrements. It was quite hard work especially because near the bottom of the hole there was a tree root as thick as my wrist (I think from the neighbour's tree) & that had to be removed. This is how it looks now -

Click to see

It's either a Phyllostachys aureosulcata, if the sulcus is yellow (aka: "Crookstem" or Yellow Groove"), or Ph. aureosulcata 'Alata' if the sulcus is green. The chacteristic bending of the culms makes it one of the easier bamboo to identify.

After planting the little Phyllostachys nigra, the Nandina next to it seemed not quite right, so it got dug it up & replaced it with a rock.....and then I planted an Aspidistra....... and then some bits of Kinnikinik.....and finally a little low-growing Juniper (J. squamata 'blue carpet'). It'll be interesting to see how this corner looks in a few years when the bamboo's grown a good deal taller & the older stems have gone black......

Click to see

Hi Herb,

Your yard looks great as usual.

One note on your bamboo, good choice of using a rhizome barier only concern you might want to keep an eye on it. Generally when using a barrier we leave 4-6" above ground. I know it would not look very clean in your garden so just keep an eye on runners jumping over the barrier. If they do just snip thme off, just keep an eye on them. Some times its hard to do when you get a bunch of leaf drop (wich makes great mulch for your bamboo) but then you cant see the runners under the leaves.

Again,.. beautiful yard!

Don

Thanks, Don - I'll keep an eye open!

Herb

That bamboo looks awesome! whats the species?

I adore the trimming too! Nice work, although the lantern looks a bit lonely ;) Have you considered addning something to the right of the gate?

/Henrik

Henrik,

I can't plant much to the right of the bamboo because the garden gate (still further to the right & not visible in either picture) needs room to swing open - and besides I expect (hope?) that the bamboo will get quite a lot taller & wider. It's Black Bamboo (Phyllostachyis nigra).

I've been wondering whether I should keep the little Misaki lantern there because there's an identical one on the opposite side of the garden so I'm trying out a different one, made in the past few days, (click below for the picture) but I still haven't decided which I like better, or if it's the best place - or even if there should be one there at all.......

Herb

Click here

Well... when it comes to placing lanterns you probably know more than me. But I think its good to ask yourself "does the lamp serve any purpose here?"

Near a tsukubai, close to a gate or path a lantern definetly serve a purpose. Then if it is the correct type of lantern, thats another question. I definetly think a square lantern like teh one on your pic suits the scene near a gate, and lanterns like misaki or suits a scene near water. Altough the tall wall, the bamboo and lantern creates a great atmosphere, something which I totally lack!!

yours/Henrik

Hi Herb, I'd aim the path more left ( like into where the bamboo was on the earlier photo)then let it turn right and towards the gate and plant something like the bamboo on the right of the path so that there is someting to pivit around and hide the view of the gate until you're more upon it. Gerald

Thanks, Gerald, I'll certainly consider it. My first thought is that it may involve my moving the Tanyosho pine, because the space isn't very big. I'm going to take some pictures of the corner from further back in the garden & then try simulating the bamboo and pine in new positions with Photoshop.......

Herb