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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.