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
Mine arrived later than I'd expected (even though pre-ordered in August) and, as all my pots are sitting outside, they're not getting the warmth they want to push them into bloom quickly in any case. Only one, a dwarf variety, has begun to sprout so I suspect it'll be January or later before I see flowers also. I went crazy and ordered a total of 18 (8 varieties), one trio of which was 'La Paz'. Some will be gifts...
ReplyDeleteYou have some beautiful colors of amaryllis. I might even try one this winter. It is nice to have January blooms, something to look forward to. Everything is so grey and brown here.
ReplyDeleteHave always wanted 'La Paz' and never can seem to find any Cybister type. What a beauty! You can always save the bulbs and time them next year to flower at Christmas. The method is somewhere on the internet. Here easier to plant them in the ground--they are dropping their foliage now, will wake up in March and flower in April.
ReplyDeleteI've had unusually good luck planting amaryllis in cylindrical glass vases. Sometimes called "hurricane candle holders" I used 5" wide x 12" tall. I put a few inches of gravel in the bottom, then some soil surrounding the bulb and leave them on a windowsill. After they bloom and the leaves have completely died and dried, I put the entire thing in a dark closet. This is my 3rd year with some of them, so it will be interesting to see if they bloom. Leaves have emerged, so that's a good sign. Happy Holidays Phillip and Michael!
ReplyDeleteInteresting - do you leave it in the closet all year? I've tried keeping them by planting outside and bringing them back in during the Fall but haven't had luck. I've seen photos of the glass vases. I need to try that.
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