今日の動画:たった一輪のスノードロップ
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.
Several years ago, I received ground cherry seedlings from a gardening friend. Since then, I've collected seeds, propagated the seedlings, and cultivated them annually. They are perennials and can overwinter. Last year, seedlings planted alongside strawberries in a large pot grew exceptionally large. By autumn, they bore abundant berries. Gradually ripening, the pods turned a pale brown while the berry inside turned yellow, ready for harvest. Even deep into winter, the branches and leaves remain unfrozen, with berries continuing to ripen slowly. They appear quite hardy against the cold. The yellow berry has a slightly tropical, sweet-and-sour flavour and is absolutely delicious. They contain numerous small seeds, which seem to have a good germination rate.
ホオズキトマトの苗を数年前に庭友さんから頂いて、それから種をとって苗を育てたりしながら、毎年育ててきました。そして昨年はイチゴと一緒に大きな鉢に植え付けた苗がとても大きく育ち、秋にたくさんの実をつけて、少しずつその実が熟して袋は薄茶色になり、中の実は黄色くなったのを収穫していただいています。真冬になっても枝葉は枯れず、すこしずつ実が熟しています。寒さに結構強いようです。黄色い実はちょっとトロピカルな甘酸っぱい味がしてとてもおいしいです。小さな種がたくさん入っていて、種の発芽率も良いようです。
Acanthus is characterised by its deeply lobed leaves, a design motif also seen in ancient Greek architecture. After its summer dormancy, new leaves begin to emerge in autumn, becoming lush in winter before extending long flower spikes in early summer bearing slightly purple-tinged blooms.
アカンサスは切れ込みの深いその葉の形が特徴で、古代ギリシャ建築でもそのデザインが見られます。夏の休眠期をすぎて秋には新しい葉が伸び始め、冬に茂り、初夏に長い花穂を伸ばして少し紫がかった花を咲かせます。
In the midwinter garden, the season for winter pruning of roses is fast approaching. There are still a few roses bearing flowers on branches that have not yet been pruned. Let me introduce them.
真冬の庭では間もなくバラの冬剪定の季節です。まだ剪定をしていない枝に花をつけているバラはいくつかあります。それを紹介しましょう。
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| Mary Rose メアリーローズ |
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| Iceberg アイスバーグ |
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| Cocktail カクテル |
The white Japanese apricot blossoms in the bluebell garden have bloomed again this year. With the very warm weather we've had over the last few days, they seem to have burst into bloom all at once. Last year we harvested a great many fruits, but what will this year bring? The flowers should continue blooming until around early March. By then, the bluebells' new shoots will be stretching upwards, heralding the arrival of spring's dazzling season.
今年もブルーベルの庭の白梅が開花しました。ここ数日とても暖かい日が続いていたのでぱっとたくさん咲き始めたようです。昨年はたくさんの実を収穫できましたが、今年はどうでしょうか。花は3月初めごろまで咲き続けると思います。そのころにはブルーベルの新芽が伸びてきて、春のまぶしい季節がやってきます。
Tosa-Buntan is a cultivar of Citrus maxima, and it is is a speciality of the Tosa region in Shikoku Island. We planted a seedling in 2006 and it has been bearing fruit since 2018. The fruits have ripened, so I picked a few. The fruits compete with the acacia for its vivid yellow colour. I leave the fruits to rest for a while until they sweeten.
土佐文旦は文旦の一種で、四国土佐の名産です。2006年に苗を植えて、2018年から実をつけています。実が色づいてきたので少し収穫しました。ミモザの花と黄色の鮮やかさを競っています。実はすぐには食べず、しばらく保存して甘くなるのを待ちます。
Climbing plants (potato vine and passion flower) are trained along the walls on either side of the west-facing windows in the garden room. These vines are also trained over the windows to form a green curtain that softens the summer sunlight. Both plants are nearly evergreen in this region, but they are pruned every winter. Dead branches, thin branches, and overgrown shoots are cut away. Pruning begins with the branches near the windows, followed by trimming both sides to complete the task. Come spring, new shoots emerge. By summer, the branches and leaves become lush, forming a green curtain that softens the heat and delights us with its pretty flowers.
ガーデンルームの西向きの窓の両側の壁につる性植物(ツルハナナスとトケイソウ)を誘引しています。そのつるを窓の上にも誘引して、夏の日差しを和らげる緑のカーテンにしています。どちらも当地ではほぼ常緑ですが、毎年冬に剪定しています。枯れた枝、細い枝、徒長した枝などを切ります。まず、窓の所の枝から始め、そして両側の剪定をして完成す。春になると新芽が伸びだして、夏には枝葉が茂って緑のカーテンとなり暑さを和らげてくれ、可愛らしい花をつけて楽しませてくれます。
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| Potato vine blooms a little even in winter 冬も少し咲くツルハナナス |