今日の動画:週末の宵、ガーデンルームはパブに
My wife and I started gardening in Fukuoka (Japan) in 2003. There was nothing but muddy clayey sloping land. At the beginning we made several structure such as steps and paths, and planted turf, fruit trees, roses, herbs etc. In 2010, we visited several famous English gardens, including Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Mottisfont Abbey Garden and Hidcote Manor Garden. We were shocked by the glory of those gardens. Since then, we have been trying to make small but glorious gardens by ourselves.
In the ‘Blue Border’—a flowerbed on the east side of the main garden where we grow flowering shrubs and perennials with blue flowers—the catmint is currently in full bloom. Flower bees visit every day, drawn by the nectar. The two lamb figurines have really settled into the scenery here (or perhaps we’ve just got used to them). Behind the catmint, I have temporarily placed two potted olive trees. They are covered in tiny flower buds and look set to bloom very soon. I plan to transplant these two olive trees into the large pots in front of the brick wall.
メインガーデンの東側にある青い花をつける花木や宿根草などを育てている青の花壇(ブルーボーダー)では、今キャットミントの花が満開です。花蜂たちがその蜜を目当てに毎日やってきます。二つの子羊の置物もだいぶんここの風景になじんで(私たちが慣れて)きました。キャットミントの後ろに鉢植えのオリーブを仮置きしています。小さな花芽をたくさんつけていて、もう少ししたら花が咲きそうです。この2本のオリーブの木はレンガ塀の前にある大きな鉢に植え替える予定です。
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| The blue border 青の花壇 |
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| Catmint and olive キャットミントとオリーブ |
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| Catmint flowers with a bumblebee 花蜂とキャットミントの花 |
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| A potted olive with many flower buds たくさんの花芽のついた鉢植えのオリーブ |
Angela, the pink rose that blooms atop the arch, is now in its fifteenth year. It reaches full bloom at this time every year and is one of the star roses of the main garden. As dusk falls, its colour appears slightly different from how it looks during the day.
アーチの上に咲くピンクのバラ、アンジェラは今年で15年になります。毎年この時期に満開になり、メインガーデンの主役のバラのひとつです。夕暮れ時になると昼間とは少し色合いも違って見えます。
The early summer sun is strong, and on clear days it can be so bright that the contrast becomes too harsh, making it difficult to appreciate the beauty of the flowers and foliage. However, in the early morning, at dusk, and on cloudy days, the colours and shapes of the plants stand out clearly, creating a beautiful sight. The photographs below were taken in the afternoon, once the sun had gone down. Please also take a look at the video.
初夏の日差しは強く、快晴の日中は明るすぎてコントラストが強くなりすぎてせっかくの花や緑の美しさが分かりにくくなります。しかし、早朝や夕暮れ、そして曇った日は植物の色や形のディテールがくっきり見えて美しいです。以下の写真は日が当たらなくなった午後に撮影したものです。動画も併せてご覧ください。
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| Gertrude Jekyll: An English rose with a wonderful fragrance ガートルードジェキル:素晴らしい香りのイングリッシュローズ |
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| Angela: A vibrant pink German rose blooming on an arch アンジェラ:アーチに咲く鮮やかなピンクのドイツのバラ |
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| Box-leaved holly hedges マメツゲの生垣 |
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| Amaryllis アマリリス |
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| Peony “Barrington Belle” and 'Bowl of Beauty' シャクヤク バリントンベルとボウルオブビューティー |
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| Terraced herb beds ハーブの段々畑 |
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| Shade garden 日陰の庭 |
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| The blue flower border with an arbour seat at the back 奥に屋根付きベンチのある青い花の花壇 |
I set up a scarecrow made from Peter Rabbit’s jacket and shoes in the potager garden and took photos and videos of the garden in the morning. There’s also Jemima Paddle-duck.
ピーターラビットのジャケットと靴で作ったかかしをポタジェガーデンの畑に設置して、朝のポタジェガーデンを撮影しました。ジマイマ・パドルダックもいますよ。
The morning of the open garden event was calm, cool and sunny.
Please take a look at the video to see what the garden looks like.
オープンガーデンの朝は穏やかで涼しく良い天気でした。
動画で庭の様子をご覧ください。
We are holding an open garden tomorrow and the day after. The weather forecast predicts sunny weather on both days. We look forward to welcoming you with our Union Jack flying. You are most welcome to come along.
明日と明後日はオープンガーデンです。天気予報では両日とも晴れの予想。イギリス国旗をはためかせて皆様をお迎えいたします。どうぞお越しください。
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| The Potager |
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| The main garden |
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| The bluebell garden |
The Bluebell Garden is situated on a slope; if you climb the steps running alongside it to the very top, you will see Mount Kaya—a mountain shaped like Mount Fuji, also known as Itoshima Fuji—directly ahead. We call this spot Fuji-viewpoint.
The Japanese apricot tree is gradually growing larger and bearing plenty of fruit, but when the new shoots that emerge in spring grow to a length of several dozen centimetres, this mountain becomes difficult to see. That is why we prune the branches at this time of year. Once pruned, the mountain becomes visible again.
The steps are a little unstable, but we installed handrails a few years ago, so during the open garden event, those who are confident on their feet are welcome to climb up and admire the beautiful silhouette of Itoshima Fuji.
ブルーベルの庭は斜面にあり、斜面の横にある階段を上って一番上までいくと、富士山に似た形の山、可也山、別名糸島富士が正面に見えます。ここを私たちは富士見台と呼んでいます。
梅の木がだんだん大きくなってきて、たくさん実をつけるようになっていますが、春に出る新芽が数十センチ伸びてくると、この山が見えにくくなります。そこでこの時期に枝の剪定をします。剪定をするとまた山が見えやすくなります。
ちょっと階段が不安定ですが、数年前に手すりをつけていますので、オープンガーデンの際は脚に自信のある方はどうぞ登って美しい形の糸島富士をご覧ください。
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| Before pruning new shoots of Japanese apricot 梅の新しい枝の剪定前 |
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| Itoshima Fuji is now clearly visible after pruning 剪定後、糸島富士がよく見えるようになりました |