{Our Sky Pencils - Ilex crenata Japanese holly}

• On August 20, my husband Pieter planted these Sky Pencils - Ilex crenata Japanese holly. The pots came from Home Depot and are frost proof. Just have a look at these Sky Pencils...

• Under each pot is a large tile for placing them. Shown also all the balusters, posts and ginger bread from Vintage Woodworks, Texas. Wreath with some real green.

• Of course we did baby them during the extreme heat!

• Yes, still on November 12, you see the stark contrast between shade and sunshine, even close to 5:00 PM.
• These pots were in the shade most of the day, as they're on the north side towards the road.

The Ginger Bread from Vintage Woodworks resembles lace work in wood...

• This was taken on November 12 and you can see the fall colors. 
• The oak tree in front of the house (top right) has lost most of its leaves already...

• To the left of the house is another huge oak tree.
• Some of the prostrate gardenias did bloom again in November, after the hot and dry summer.
• Do you keep  evergreens in pots as well?

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{Our Acer - Maple Trees}

Just this week our Acer Saccharum Marshall or Sugar Maple tree, was at its very best! So here I want to share some of its photos and also the Acer Palmatum Sango-Kaku that is in the wood garden, across the creek.

• This is our Acer saccharum Marshall or Sugar Maple tree. The very tree for the maple syrup!
• To the right, the yellow leaved tree is our Ginkgo biloba tree.
• Pieter has repaired our wooden bridges and treated with wood preserving oil.

• To the left is our Red Maple or Acer Rubrum. Two of our wooden bridges are visible here.

• The above photo is taken three days before the rest, notice the change in color...
• Our wooden bridge, repaired and treated with wood conservation.

• Three days later in full color, this was November 10. Our center bridge visible, covered with fall leaves.

• A view from across the pond...

• This is the Acer Palmatum Sango-Kaku or Japanese Maple 'Coral Bark'

• We do have other Acer - Maple trees but they don't have such lovely fall colors due to the hot and dry summer. 
• Hope next year things will look better again.

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{Our Spiraea japonica 'Gold Mound' (Japanese Spirea)}

• On May 21 our Spiraea japonica 'Gold Mound' (Japanese Spirea) was showing its pink blooms and I took pictures of it. 
• The serrated leaves are a striking yellow-green color that makes it already a gorgeous shrub in itself.
• Our two shrubs are blooming each a little bit at a different stage, probably it makes a difference in which spot they are planted. 
• Hope you enjoy their blooms and even their flower heads in an already advanced stage. Let's start the Garden Tour.

• The Spiraea japonica is very attractive to butterflies.

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{Our Bletilla Striata Alba Orchid native to Japan and China}

Already since February 1996 we do have our Bletilla Striata Alba Orchids, or Chinese Ground Orchids as they're called. They are native to Japan and China. The hyperlink also gives shipping information, for those of you who would want to know. Also there is the Japanese Bletilla striata 'Kuchibeni' offered from Plant Delights Nursery, Inc. in a purple lip variety. Both are equally pretty. Ours grow in the wood garden and yes, they are winter hardy as well! We got them from Carroll Gardens, from Westminster, Maryland who unfortunately are no longer in business since June of 2009. They always were an excellent source of rare plants and shrubs with high quality plant material.

Even though it is called 'Alba' it is still showing a hint of purple. This is last year's blossom, photo taken on April 27. Join me on a Garden Tour.

That is their foliage, broad green leaves. We have them next to our Ginger lilies and that foliage is still on the ground. This photo is taken on April 8 and the last photos with the blossoms completely open are from April 12.

A close-up of our teenage Orchids... 15 years old!

April 27, 2010

April 12, 2011

It is a beautiful Orchid and I can only recommend it!

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{Japanese Styrax Obassia - Fragrant Snowbell}

Around mid April our Styrax Obassia, Fragrant Snowbell, is putting on quite a show. This native from Japan is such a gem and is available at Woodlanders. We feel fortunate to have such a beauty in our wood garden. No flowers last for weeks on end, but it is worth it for the time that they do! Join me for a Garden Tour.

The Styrax Obassia in our wood garden.

Blue sky in April...

Hope you enjoyed our Japanese gem!

This is how they look one month later!

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{Satsuki Azaleas Wakaebisu in Front of Our Home}

It was in 1994, that we had a fairytale spring and all of our Satsuke Azaleas 'Wakaebisu' where blooming so pretty. One could say that was picture perfect! The 'Wakaebisu' is a Rhododendron indicum. The name translates to fifth month and that is exactly true, as it is a late blooming Azalea variety. This species can be found on the southernmost four islands of the Japanese island chain. Let me first show you the picture-perfect Wakaebisu in full bloom in May of 1994 and I will end with the sad thing that I found yesterday... dried up buds because of the harsh weather. Friday they looked like I could make a beautiful photo of them but nope. Seems to be hard in our climate to keep them. In the front we've replaced them once and now there are only a few of them left, in our wood garden... Join me for a Garden Tour!

Yes, this is a typical blue sky for the time of the year...

Our Vintage Woodwork looks so pretty here in the front porch and gable!

These Satsuki Azaleas Wakaebisu complimented the roof color of our home so well!

Showing here also the Vintage Woodworks gable above our kitchen bay window...

Vintage Woodworks balusters on the balcony and again gable ornament.

Vintage Woodworks front porch balusters clearly visible.

Better view of the balusters on balcony.

Yesterday's photo from the Wakaebisu with severe drought damage...

Its buds died from drought even before opening up...

"In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends." -Kazuko Okakura (1862-1913)



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{Our Japanese Somei Yoshino Cherry in Bloom + Hummingbird Hawk Moth}

It is now one week ago that I took these photos of our Japanese Somei Yoshino cherry in full bloom. The blossoms don't last that long and as the wind blows, they soon end up under the tree as a pinkish white carpet on the ground. These Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms are slightly pink, almost white and 5-petaled. You can read more info Cherry Tree Varieties as it is also by far the most numerous cherry tree in Japan.

Bumble bees feasting on the pollen of this gorgeous tree near our pond. Scroll down below to see also a Hummingbird Hawk moth (Macroglossum stellatarum).

Petals already floating in the pond...

The gazebo is in view from this angle of the pond.

This is towards the wood garden.

A carpet of petals on the ground...

Hummingbird Hawk Moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) is feasting on the pollen here. For more info click Hummingbird moth.

Would make again for an interesting Garden Tour from Book an Event with us.

Related link:

Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum | info about the Hummingbird Hawk-moth as immigrant in the UK

Hummingbird Clearwing - Hemaris thysbe | Butterflies and Moths info

I saw a moth that looks like a hummingbird. What is it? | Butterflies and Moths info

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