Japanese Maples Fall Color
'Skeeter's Broom' is the most colorful maple in our garden. I have just returned from a 2-week trip to Japan. This was my first ever trip outside the United States. It was an amazing experience and one I will never forget. Japan was wonderful - they really have their act together and I think the U.S. could learn a few things from them. There was one disappointment on the trip - the fall color had barely begun there and was really just beginning as we left. That is okay because the gardens were still spectacular, and I got a nice shot of fall color when I got back. 'Ryusen' I missed a few things - our ginkgo had just turned a glorious color the day before I left, and the leaves were gone by the time I got back. 'Sango-Kaku' I came home to many leaves on the ground but still a lot on the trees. 'Osakazuki', a beautiful red maple always changed color very late and therefore doesn't usually last long. When I left there was no color but a few remaini
I was going to suggest Clorox to get rid of the algae but I'm thinking that there is probably some type of product out there made specifically for that. You might check with Across The Pond since they carry a lot of fountains.
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Bleach is what I was going to say about cleaning your pump and urn. Don't water down the bleach too much either.
ReplyDeletePink icicles is a gorgeous camillia. Well named since it lived through such a freeze. That wind was amazing yesterday here too. Scary even. I am glad you didn't have any bad damage.
This is pretty cold for Alabama, isn't it? Here in the Pacific Northwest we've also been under a deep freeze--all week! Record lows, like 13 degrees and clear skies. The weather people are saying we'll get snow or freezing rain tomorrow evening. Oh joy. I heard that it was 32 degrees in Los Angeles. I hope you get the warmup soon!
ReplyDeleteI use an organic algicide block to clean our birdbaths. I just wet it and use it like a brillo pad. This works really good and you don't have the chlorine residue to deal with. Just another option - G
ReplyDeleteLove that Pink Icicle. We experienced that same wind yesterday. It was crazy! Today it was less windy but pretty darn cold. There's this enzyme type product that they sell for ponds that I've thrown into my fountain to clear things up. Works pretty well. Sorry I don't remember the name of it (and it's too cold to go outside to my storeroom to check!).
ReplyDeleteI have to empty all my pots this weekend. Here's hoping the winter passes quickly!
ReplyDeleteThe wind must've made it feel even colder. I wish I knew the answer to the pump and freezing weather. I've got mine going in the pond, but and starting to worry it's going to ruin the pump.
ReplyDelete'Pink Icicle' is so pretty! At least you have a little color to enjoy.
The wind can be frightening tossing limbs about and more! Sad to see your camellia! Can you cover them? There are so many buds.
ReplyDeleteThe wintry weather in the states has been on the tv news over here.
ReplyDeleteIt's set to turn cold over west europe this coming week after an exceptionally mild autumn and start to winter.
What a nasty bit of weather for you. The Hydrangea does look rather sad. Theoretically, moving water doesn't freeze, but then waterfalls do get ice on them, so it was smart of you to bring in the fountain.
ReplyDeleteYour Cameillias are so lovely, I hope the cold doesn't ruin all their flowers. I sympathize with you about the stupid aphid mess. That black sooty crud damaged my roof shingles after dripping off my Magnolia.
First the winds, then the cold~it sure has been interesting! The urn is an especially good looking one. I have no idea how to clean it. Is it sitting on a bed of rocks over a pan?
ReplyDeletePink Ice camellia is beautiful. So are your roses...I hope they are all fine after this extraordinarily cold weather. gail
Deep freeze? We hit zero in Chicago and it's not even the middle of the month! The daytime high yesterday was 13. Some of our artic blast must've drifted down your way, Phillip.
ReplyDeleteAnd they're predicting an El Nino winter this year. I'm still waiting for global warming to visit Chicago :-)
I wouldn't use bleach to clean anything that will touch water birds will drink... I'd probably just scrub it out with a brush and maybe some of that Simple Green all-purpose cleaner.
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful container and it's good you're protecting it from freezing! I doubt the pump would be a problem though - the water is not going to freeze solid when it's being constantly circulated like that. We're not turning off our little fish pond's pump this winter.
Anyway, love the brilliant pink of that last camellia!
Stay warm!
Seems like it is unusually cold everywhere. Thoroughly miserable here with no end in sight.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
Bizarre how much further south you are than me, and we have not yet had such temps. The weather geeks are calling for 28 tonight, the coldest we have had so far and only the second night below freezing. My japonicas are mostly tight still except for 'Les Marbury' and the sasanquas are still putting out.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your suggestions.
ReplyDeleteGrace, it is not really that cold for us but we normally have our coldest temperatures in Jan. and Feb. This seems early.
Gail, the run sits on rocks in a tub under the ground. A screen also holds the rock around it.
We've had some pretty cold spurts in Atlanta. It was funny how all the summer plants have been hanging along just fine (like my cannas) just keeled over in one night.
ReplyDeleteI like Gary's option the best, but perhaps vinegar would do? I'd soak afterwards. We've put vinegar in a spray bottle to kill moss etc. on the fence...
It seems like we're all in the deep freeze, Phillip, but at least here in Nova Scotia it's to be expected. Sounds a bit over-cold for you, even if it is Northern Alabama. I just sighed over the camellias, as we just don't have them here. So beautiful, even when chilled.
ReplyDeleteI like that gorgeous multi-color pot, but I really love the Celtic birdbath.
ReplyDeleteYour 'Pink Icicle' looks totally different than the picture on the tag of the one I have. It will be interesting to see what blooms! I don't even have it in the ground yet.
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