Skip to main content

Featured

A Visit to Cistus Nursery

I rarely go to nurseries anymore since I work part-time at one and another reason being that I don't have much room for additional plants. When a garden fanatic runs out of room, the brain goes into overdrive, dreaming up ingenious ways to incorporate more plants. And another thing happens - a burning desire to obtain rare and unique plants. I've been moving plants around, a tricky process that has a domino effect. A plant is unhappy - it is getting too much shade or perhaps too much sun. There is a plant that did not get as large as you thought it would or it is just a slow grower and now it is hopelessly hidden behind a taller plant. Sometimes a plant is just a dud for reasons unknown (Rhododendron 'Golden Gate' anyone?). I find the plant in question a better home, but it means that another plant will have to be moved. And the merry-go-round continues to turn... However, for those plants that are to be discarded, a space opens up for a new one! I decided to move a Mou...

Japanese Maple Inventory

 'Amagi Shigure'



I counted 15 Japanese maples on my plant inventory sheet although there is at least one that I do not remember planting and haven't seen it lately. Several of our maples, purchased from East Fork Nursery a few years ago, are in pots. They are doing well which is a relief. Growing trees in pots in not something I normally do. The new spring growth is very pretty. 

'Shaina' - I've been eating my words about this one. I hate the way it looks in winter when its dead leaves cling to the tree. I tried everything (including using the leaf blower) to dislodge them with no luck. But look at it now! And it is growing rather fast.




To Shaina's right is Acer palmatum ‘Murasaki Kiyohime’ which was already here when we moved in. We prune it on it constantly as it wants to keep getting higher although most stats say that it reaches 3-4' tall. Of course it wants to do more than that.

‘Murasaki Kiyohime’

'Ruby Stars'


'Japanese Princess'

'Moonrise'

'Skeeter's Broom' with the aforementioned 'Shaina' and '‘Murasaki Kiyohime’ at the right.

Not pictured are 'Aconitifolium' ('Dancing Peacock'), 'Bihou', 'Geisha Gone Wild', 'Osakazuki', 'Sango Kaku' and 'Aureum'. 

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. You've got a lovely collection, Phillip. I have just 3 Japanese maples. I'd love to have more - especially a red-leafed variety - but our summers are hard on them. I have to place them in areas protected from the summer sun and dry winds and there are just so many of those spots available.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Phillip I also have a weakness for Japanese maples . I have eight scattered about in my gardens .. some lace cut .. some the ordinary Bloodgood, so I can count on them coming through our winters (most times ?) and one green lace cut "Waterfall" which grows painfully slow (to me at least ? LOL) all the rest are those gorgeous deep burgundy red .. I love your "Moonrise" it is gorgeous ! .. One of my oldest and favorites is Inaba Shidare by our water feature , it arches ? in a beautiful way to me.
    I can't imagine my garden without them . They are exclamation points that dot the gardens and make me smile. Your gardens are stunning ;-)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts