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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

Plant Delights, pt. 2

After spending almost 3 hours touring one part of the garden and shopping for plants, we just had 1 hour to explore the display garden located right at the entrance to Plant Delights. This garden was mostly all shade. 

This garden also featured a waterfall, not as big as the other one.
 

A stone sculpture surrounded by an island of plants. All of the plantings were done on huge raised berms. In the previous display garden, some of these berms were at least 4 feet high.


Such interesting combinations - palm trees, hydrangea, hosta, mahonia and acuba.
Leading to a bog garden, filled with pitcher plants
Another view of the bog garden



I cringe when I think that we almost skipped Plant Delights - it was a memorable afternoon and an awesome chance to see a living nursery catalog of unique plants.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. Thank you so much for the wonderful photos of this nursery display garden. I have read about it on their website and thought about planning a visit. Now I know I would certainly like to visit.

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  2. The Gardener at Rose Petals Nursery wishes she hadn't chosen to skip Plant Delights....guess we have a "field trip" to plan soon! Thanks for the 2 day tour, we loved seeing the garden through your lens.....♥

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  3. i am thrilled to see pictures of this garden! i've wanted to go to an open house for years, but never been able to. i like the interesting plant combos, too, and your photos are a real pleasure. thanks for sharing.

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  4. Glad you didn't miss that section! I remember we almost missed it on our first visit. Some of the garden "art" is so tongue-in-cheek!

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  5. Danger, take a look at my "Pt. 1" post - I listed the plants I bought at the end. :)

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  6. Glad to have found your blog. I love all your pictures. Thanks for sharing your visit to Plant Delights. I'll have to remember that if we are ever in NC.

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  7. I'm glad you went too...so I got to go along!

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  8. Wow! Lovely indeed. I can imagine myself watching at the waterfall and be relaxed. Thank you so much.

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  9. Thanks so much for taking us on this tour, Phillip--I just finished Part I as well. What a fantastic place! I kept hearing about Plant Delights on several blogs and checked out its location before we headed to Asheville. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to drive the extra distance to view it, but now it's going on my "bucket list." This is no ordinary nursery!

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  10. You took great photos of the tour. Thank you for sharing. I really like seeing these places I can't get to.

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  11. Good to know about your blog You took great photos of the tour. Thank you for sharing. I really like seeing these places I can't get to.

    Garden Centre Chulmleigh

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  12. This is a great posting It’s exactly what I was looking for. I like your article.

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  13. Wow, Phillip, you've really captured this beautiful place, another one I've not been to yet but its on my list. It makes a Southern summer feel cooler just looking at it.

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  14. I order from Plant Delights every year, and a visit to their nursery is on my bucket list. Now I want to go even more. Great pictures.

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  15. Love your beautiful photo's! I just purchased a "Little Imp' last week for my JapMaple/Conifer garden area. Thanks for sharing!

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  16. How awesome to be able to see what you would like to purchase in all its glory! How do they get hosta to become so large? I have to fight off the Voles as they love to eat my hosta roots. For now, I put them in large pots and cover the pots in the soil. This keeps them from getting large for me but it keeps me having them....

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