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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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Fig & Almond Cake


A lady who visited our garden back in June brought us figs. I made the following cake which was very simple and fast. The figs were honey figs and very delicious. They were really sweet so I omitted sprinkling them with sugar. 

Fig and Almond Cake

4 tablespoons butter, melted, plus butter for greasing the pan
1 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons for sprinking
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. salt
3 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 tsp. almond extract
12 to 14 ripe figs

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 9-inch fluted tart pan or pie pan.

Combine the almonds and 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor and grind into a coarse powder.

Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Pulse to combine.

Whisk together the eggs, melted butter, honey and almond extract. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Remove the stems from the figs and cut in half. Arrange the figs cut-side up over the batter. Sprinkle the figs with sugar. Bake for 30 minutes, until golden brown.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
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