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.
Every year around this time, we inspect and paint the bench in front of the brick wall. This bench was installed in 2011 and has now been in place for 15 years. In May, when the roses on the brick wall are in full bloom, this bench becomes a popular spot for photographs. Over time, we have observed wood rot in parts of the bench and carried out repairs. We turn the bench over for a thorough inspection. This time, no new rot was found; after washing it down, we applied a preservative. We will continue to maintain it carefully so that it remains a bench that can be sat upon safely for many years to come.
Due to the record low rainfall this autumn and winter, water supply restrictions have begun in our region, affecting vegetable growth. Amidst this, we finally had our first substantial rainfall of the winter. The small conical rain gauge filled to capacity, and the large cylindrical gauge showed over 60 millimetres of rain. The garden is refreshed, and the spring onions and cabbages in the potager seem to be growing a little better. At the top of the herb terraces, I planted Japanese spiraea seedlings. It's a variety with golden foliage. I hear it blooms with red flowers in early summer. I'm looking forward to it.
In the bluebell garden, following the first white Japanese apricot blossoms (Kizannhaku), another variety 'Bungo-Ume' has begun to bloom. The Bungo-Ume has a very fine fragrance and bears large fruit. The bluebells have also begun to sprout. Spring has truly arrived. And above the Bungo plum trees, the large, lush acacia (Acacia mollissima) is laden with countless flower buds, turning the entire tree a beautiful yellow-green. I look forward to its flowering.
On this day when the temperature exceeded 18 degrees, I spotted bees in the garden for the first time. They had come to the purple Hardenbergia flowers in bloom. I hope many more bees and flower bees will visit from now until autumn.
Hardenbergia is a leguminous vine that flowers in early spring. I had been growing purple on the left and pink on the right of the covered bench, but the pink Hardenbergia died due to pests, so I have just planted a new small seedling.
The final rose pruning in the garden was along the brick wall. I cut away dead branches and thin side shoots, then trained the longer branches horizontally as evenly as possible. Where there were too many branches, I replaced older ones with newer growth. Imagining where the flowers would bloom, I secured the branches to horizontally laid wire. I started alone on the left side, but as rain threatened, my wife and I hurriedly finished the right side together.
The plum blossoms that began blooming in mid-January are now nearing full bloom. Surrounded by bare trees, the plum trees stand out strikingly, their branches laden with clusters of white flowers. It is an early spring scene. Some petals have already begun to fall, and even on the ground where bluebells will bloom in spring, the white petals are conspicuous.
