Littleleaf lindens are a numerous clan, with several dozen forms varying in overall size (from dwarf to full), habits (columnar to weeping), branching pattern (more dense or less, more regular or less), and bark color of young twigs (yellow or orange).

To date, there hasn't been much flash in the foliage. Certainly, nothing like the dizzying and ever-expanding range of options for European beech foliage, with every permutation of purple, green, gold, and variegated. Until recently, the choices for linden foliage were green but a bit more glossy, or a bit smaller, or with a better yellow Fall color.

But now, this glorious butter-yellow cultivar is available.

Known as 'Shibamichi Gold' or, after the Japanese breeder, 'Akira Gold', this is a linden tree with colorful foliage Spring through Summer.  Hooray!

The early season of bloom, cool blue-green foliage, flesh-pink stems, and pure-white flower petals make plausible another of the common names of this unusual Asian perennial: Snow poppy. These pictures are from May 9 of this year, when chilly evenings, if not actual flurries, were still possible.

But the flower's demure exterior belies its warmth and energy.

Last season, I took the plunge—or rather, I caused two young specimens of hardy mangrove to take the plunge. I planted each of them in a fifteen-gallon galvanized washtub, covered the soil with hefty clumps of moss, and then slowly lowered the washtubs to the bottom of my reflecting pond. 

Hardy mangrove was thus introduced to its watery home. And successfully: Here's one of the saplings, just unfurling its shiny foliage for the new season.