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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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Signs of Spring and Transplanting a Rhododendron


Things are warming up. The daffodils and hellebores are blooming. The days seem to alternate between sunny and mild and cloudy and colder.

I took advantage of a recent mild and sunny day and transplanted a rhododendron. This one ('Golden Gate') was previously located behind the pergola in the back garden and was pretty much being smothered by other plants -

Unlike some other plants, like the buddleia in the previous post, young rhododendrons are easy to move and the root ball is small -



I've moved it to the front border where it will hopefully be happier and bloom nicer than it did in the previous location. I don't know how many soaker hoses I have destroyed by digging into them. On this go-around, I managed to spot the hose before I plunged the shovel into the ground -



I always place rhododendrons slightly higher than ground level - actually I do this with most plants.


Mission accomplished!



I am still in the process of pruning roses. I got all of the clematis pruned and I hope to get them fertilized tomorrow.

Many perennials are beginning to emerge and need last year's dead growth removed. Case in point - this euphorbia -



I think I heard the plant cheering after I did that.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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Comments

  1. Kris PetersonMarch 20, 2023 at 7:04 PM

    I'm sure you felt cheerful as well after completing those tasks, Phillip. That's a great way to celebrate the start of the spring season!

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  2. AnonymousMarch 21, 2023 at 8:36 AM

    Transferring your Rhodi encourages me to move mine, a compact PJM. The big question, as always, is where to...
    Which Euphorbia is featured in the photos above?
    Chavli

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