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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...

Fall Color on Japanese Maples


The fall colors are just incredible this year and during the past week, it looks like the saturation filter has been dramatically increased. 

The most colorful has to be the maples. In the top photo of our front pathway, you can see 'Skeeter's Broom' on the left and 'Sango Kaku' (the Coral Bark maple) on the right. 

I've never seen color on 'Dancing Peacock' (in a pot) like this before -

Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' ('Dancing Peacock')

And 'Golden Full Moon', very small right now, is just getting started -

Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' ('Golden Full Moon')

The color on 'Osakazuki' occurs very late, sometimes too late, but happens overnight - 

Acer palmatum 'Osakazuki'

And then it changes even more. The upper photo was taken three days ago, the bottom on yesterday - 



'Sango Kaku', better known as the Coral Bark Maple, so called because of the red stem color (on newer stems) -



'Skeeter's Broom' is one of the prettiest maples in front -




'Shaina' is a variety I recommend for tight spots -




'Ryusen' is a weeping variety -




'Ryusen' as seen from the back with the morning sunlight shining through it -




'Beni-Hime'


And finaly, 'Bloodgood', which was already here when we moved in -





Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. You have a LOT of Japanese maples! They make a gorgeous showing. My 'Sango Kaku' has yet to shown any color whatsoever but it isn't dropping any leaves yet either.

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  2. WOW! I can't pick a favorite, what glorious color. What a delight to come home to!

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  3. Your and Michael's garden is just amazing.

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  4. I love Japanese maples. There's no way to pick a favorite this time of year; they are all stunning in their own way. Didn't you use to grow Acer palmatum 'Geisha Gone Wild'...
    Chavli

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    Replies
    1. Yes I do have that one. I moved it from a pot to the ground and it is in way too much shade. I'm going to dig it back up and put it in a pot again so I move it to a better location. The fall color is still pretty good on it. I forgot to photograph it.

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  5. Hopefully moving to Vancouver next summer. Your garden has given me such great ideas. I love that you identify the plant names in your videos!

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