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.
The Chinese quince tree in the Bluebell Garden is covered in pink blossoms. The flowers are beautiful, with petals that have a texture reminiscent of waxwork. Quince fruit cannot be eaten raw. We harvest them in autumn and preserve them in sugar or honey to use as a winter throat remedy. They have a pleasant, mildly sour flavour and are best enjoyed diluted with hot water.
The tulips in the pots on the terrace have bloomed. All of a sudden, the terrace feels like spring. Tulips really are the quintessential spring flower, aren’t they?
I knew a storm was coming from the sound of rain and wind battering the windows since early this morning. Looking outside, I could see the branches of the wild cherry tree swaying violently in the strong wind. It looks as though this will be the end of the wild cherry blossoms, which had already begun to shed their petals.
The spring rains have been persistent, and the garden is thoroughly soaked. The trees and plants are sprouting, and various flowers are beginning to bloom, marking the true arrival of spring.
In the Bathtub Pool, the water lily leaves have emerged. The potted purple brachycome is in full bloom.
バスタブの池では睡蓮の葉が出てきました。鉢植えの紫のブラキカムは満開です。
On the terrace, the potted tulips look as though they are about to bloom any moment now.
テラスでは鉢植えのチューリップが今にも咲きそうになってきました。
In the potager, vegetables and flowers are growing, with the red of the tulips providing a splash of colour amongst the flax.
ポタジェでは野菜や草花が育ち、亜麻の間にチューリップの赤い色がアクセントになっています。
In the bluebell garden, the petals of the wild cherry trees have begun to fall; looking up, the trees are in full bloom. I am a little worried that the rain and wind might blow them all away.
This year's Open Garden of our Petit English Garden will be held on the 9th (Sat) and 10th (Sun) of May. The garden is open from 10am to 4pm. The event will be held as part of the Reiwa Open Garden. Information is posted on here about the Reiwa Open Garden.
The acacia and wild cherry trees are blooming together, filling the garden with the vibrant splendour of spring. In the evening, I set up the lighting. As it gradually grew darker, the yellow of the acacia blossoms became more vivid. As it was a moonlit night, even when I turned off the light, the flowers still glowed faintly against the darkness of the night.
Allium triquetrum has begun to bloom in the bluebell garden. They have bell-shaped white flowers with thin green stripes. The English bluebells will also start to bloom in mid-April, creating a beautiful display of bluebells and whitebells.
