Dirt Therapy

It seems I was a bit premature on my post about Japanese maples a few weeks ago. The "Boskoop Glory" was outrageously beautiful then but now all of its leaves have fallen. In the meantime, the "Bloodgood" that was rather drab next to it, has suddenly intensified.   In the back, next to the garage, is one of the most beautifully colored Japanese Maples and I don't know the name of it. It also sits next to a "Bloodgood" variety. The brilliant yellow and orange leaves next to the crimson of the "Bloodgood" is what I'm guessing must be like a religious experience! The Japanese Maples have never disappointed me with their fall color. You keep thinking that the color isn't going to be spectacular but you just have to be patient. It will come! Happy Thanksgiving! Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Japanese Maple "Boskoop Glory" Before we left for Florida last week, there was practically no fall color. I kept apologizing to a garden group from Huntsville because color-wise, there wasn't much to see. I guess you just have to be patient. Like last year, the color comes in November. I don't think this has always been the case but perhaps it is a result of the changing climate. When it happens though, it seems to occur overnight.  "Bosk oop Glory", the Japanese Maple at our f ront door. Notice on the opposite side how "Bloodgood" pales in comparison. It makes you wonder why "Bloo dgood" is so p referred in nurseries? Another famous Japanese Maple is "Sango Kaku". The bark turns red in the winter and is spectacular in all seasons. This maple is in our neighbor's yard. Not sure what kind it is. It is massive and the color is usually prettier than this. The maples are not the only tree with beautiful co...

We are back at home from our annual trip to the Florida coast. We spent an entire week in Santa Rosa Beach. This year Michael's aunt, cousin and our friend Joann went with us. We were able to rent a larger house and we loved it. I'm always looking for houses with lush landscaping and this time we hit the jackpot. The owners are avid gardeners and have created a spectacular cliffside garden filled with decks, pergolas, pathways and shrubs. The monarch butterflies were everywhere and we also saw many dragonflies, lizards and birds.  We arrived on Saturday with the dire predictions of a cold front coming through. This was distressing and the weather forecast changed every time you checked it. The front did come through on Monday and it was a bit chilly through Tuesday. We used those days for shopping. It warmed back up on Wednesday and the weather was fantastic the remainder of the week. So, we only had 2 un-beach-like days and with Sandy and all up the East Coast, I'm not c...