The serenity of a Japanese garden invites us to slow the pace of our lives, to contemplate the seasons. A dominant element of these gardens is the thoughtful placement of flowering trees. This same mood may be captured within a foothill garden simply by introducing flowering plums and pears that usher in the dramatic beauty of spring. And, of course, pausing to enjoy them each year. A week ago I drove in the early morning to Loomis to participate in the annual Gardeners’ Gathering held in the Blue Goose packing sheds. The wild plum in my rural landscape was just …