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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
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Spring is on the way!

Imagine having two consecutive days off work and having spectacular weather for working in the garden. That happened this week and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I got onion sets planted, got several bird houses up, transplanted and pruned some things, made some progress on the terraces and expanded some existing beds.

 The garden appears to be slowing waking up from its winter nap. There isn't a lot to see yet but gardeners can see the changes taking place. The approach of spring is always an exciting time in the garden.

The only flowers I can find blooming at the moment are from the lone hellebore I planted last fall.

Helleborus x ballardiae Gold Collection 'Merlin'

My neighbor has the most beautiful crocus blooming right now. Note to self - plant some in the fall!



I haven't added many plants to the garden lately but I did get a Weeping Sequoia planted at the driveway entrance a few weeks ago. 

Sequoiadendron giganteum 'Pendulum'

The terraced beds are almost finished (I think). One more load of rocks and I will finish the upper portion.



Getting more gravel spread at the base of the terraces. I plan to have the entire pathway in front of them in gravel. 


Putting up birdhouses and I was very excited to see a Chickadee checking one out a few days ago.


Our neighbor John made this one for Michael for his birthday. Note the flamingos!
Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. AlisonMarch 8, 2018 at 10:32 AM

    You need more Hellebores! And Crocuses, of course. And snowdrops. And Cyclamen coum. Do you have any Arctostaphylos or Mahonia (both shrubs)? They flower in the winter/late winter. Love the birdhouse with the flamingos.

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    1. Phillip OliverMarch 8, 2018 at 11:01 PM

      I have Mahonia 'Charity' which I just planted a few months ago. It has been blooming. I also have an Arctostaphylos as well.

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  2. Lisa at GreenbowMarch 8, 2018 at 12:17 PM

    It is exciting to be able to get out in the garden and actually DO something. Love the look of your terraces. That weeping sequoia is a beauty. Chickadees are the most fun little birds in the garden. They are very secretive when the nesting begins yet they can't hold back their bubbly personality. We are back in the deep freeze here. Bah humbug.

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  3. outlawgardenerMarch 9, 2018 at 7:19 AM

    What a treat to have two days off during nice weather! Spring is definitely an exciting time for gardeners!

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  4. Kate McMillan (Cultiverity)March 9, 2018 at 10:00 PM

    Those terraced beds are looking super great!

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  5. sweetbayMarch 10, 2018 at 6:41 AM

    Love the flamingos on the birdhouse! So cute!

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  6. chavlinessMarch 10, 2018 at 8:19 AM

    Weeping Sequoia is one of my favorite conifers. I LOVE that tree.
    What did you end up doing with the sod your removed? Did you try the upside-down composting method?

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    1. Phillip OliverMarch 10, 2018 at 8:29 AM

      Yes, that is what I am doing with it. I am also using it to elevate a low area behind the garden shed.

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  7. debsgardenMarch 10, 2018 at 3:33 PM

    Already your garden has seen so many changes since you moved there. I am looking forward to seeing your lovely stone terraces when they are fully planted! The weeping Sequoia is an amazing tree. It will add a beautiful focal point to your garden. Our spring is further along than yours - good and bad, as we are still having some freezing nights that are zapping tender buds and flowers. Do you miss Alabama's weather?

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  8. Barbara H.March 11, 2018 at 9:20 AM

    I seem to have dropped off your blog list so will subscribe again. Or maybe I just had you on the My Yahoo home page which doesn't work well any more. Your terraces look fantastic. You are well on your way to creating a beautiful garden. I used your old post about John's Native Gardens to jog my memory about the name of the Copper Iris - I knew Butterscotch was not right! Things have been growing like crazy in NE Alabama, so of course after a brutal January and unseasonably warm February we are now getting some nights below 32 degrees. Sigh....

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    1. Phillip OliverMarch 11, 2018 at 10:12 AM

      Thank you Barbara! I saw that you were having really cold temperatures after some warm weather. I hope it doesn't do too much damage. We may reach 70 today, the warmest day of the year so far. I am hoping to get lots of work done in the garden today.

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  9. AaronMarch 12, 2018 at 4:29 PM

    I like your birdhouses. It's kind of you to create housing for the birds.

    As for the hellebores, a word of caution -- I was pulling old leaves out from some hellebores a few days ago and felt some skin irritation on my wrist that evening. (I put some cortisone on the skin and that seemed to help, but I do remember reading that hellebores can cause skin irritation. Just relaying the warning so that perhaps you can learn from my mistake and wear long sleeves and/or long gloves if you're ever pruning your hellebores.

    I haven't visited for a little while and your blog design seems to have changed. It's very minimalist and modern now. Looks nice and seems quite functional!

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    1. Phillip OliverMarch 12, 2018 at 11:55 PM

      I will have to remember that. I have really sensitive skin. I am extremely allergic to poison ivy (I am thrilled that there isn’t much of that out here in Washington). Thanks for the compliments on the blog. I just changed it last week and wasn’t really sure if I was doing a good thing.

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  10. GRACE PETERSONMarch 14, 2018 at 9:31 PM

    Your terraced garden is really coming together. You'll have so much fun planting this spring and summer. Your birdhouses are so cute. We had a flock of bluejays that nested in a nearby hedge and every year they would scare off the smaller birds. A few weeks ago the neighbors cut back the hedge and boy were there some angry birds out there. They've left now though and I'm hoping the smaller birds will feel safe enough to use my birdhouses now.

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