In case you haven’t noticed, this spring really is taking its time getting going. And when there isn’t much going on in the landscape, gardeners appreciate plants that provide a little spring color.

Q: Two years ago, we planted several dwarf gold-thread cypress [Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Mop’] in a new, sunny bed. Most of the other plantings were conifers or other evergreens. Now we have too ...