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Duck to navigate a little hole in an old holly hedge, where the first of several boardwalks beckons toward an allee of Cryptomeria, the Japanese cedar, that feel as towering as giant sequoias.

The Japanese cedar, or Cryptomeria, is one of those rare conifers that gets big — it soon reaches 20 feet and then keeps going — but can be squeezed into a relatively tight spot, especially if the lowest branches are judiciously removed.

Her favorites include long-needled variegated pine in shades of green and gold, icy blue cypress, and Cryptomeria foliage in a range of tones and textures.

Soon the renovation ranged beyond the koi pond to include updating the Japanese garden with accessible footpaths and, eventually, building originally planned but never realized landscape elements such as a lotus-viewing deck and altogether new features like an enclosure of evergreen cryptomeria trees.

Made from cedar, wood and corrugated metal, and framed by Cryptomeria japonica and a potted umbrella pine, the sauna spills onto the back patio — an intimate seating area off the kitchen, where the couple has morning coffee.