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 small pond next to the blueberries was created using my late mother's nursing bathtub, which could be moved on castors. The first flowers finally bloomed in late May. It has pink and white flowers at the same time. The yellow stamens of the water lilies are very beautiful.
Nasturtiums and astilbe, growing in a small raised bed next to the terrace, are in bloom. The nasturtiums have yellow and orange flowers, while the astilbe has pure white flowers. The contrast between the shape of the leaves and flowers and the colour of the flowers is beautiful.
Acanthus mollis is a perennial herb known for its beautifully shaped foliage and distinctive flowers. The above-ground parts die back in summer and the leaves grow back in autumn. The flowers bloom in early summer. In our garden we grow it next to a small fountain and in the shade garden. The acanthus in the shade garden has not flowered this year due to a fungal disease that has reduced the size of the plant.
There are also variegated varieties of acanthus, which are generally smaller in size and produce beautiful white spikes of flowers. It is planted in an urn-shaped planter in the shade garden and in a small raised bed next to the terrace. The previous plant has died and a second plant is growing but has not flowered. We are looking forward to next year to see if it will flower.
It had rained a lot the day before and finally stopped in the morning. When I went out into the garden, the garden was soaking wet and the flowers were looking down with the weight. The ground is very pretty with lots of scattered petals from the Angela on the arch. The roses on the brick wall are almost finished, but the calla in front of it is in full bloom and its pure white petals, wet from the rain, stand out beautifully.
Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow is an aromatic flowering shrub. The flowering was a little late this year, but it started flowering at once a few days ago. The flowers are purple at the start but turn white after a few days. So it looks like two different colours blooming on one tree.
Next to it, the Echium candicans has been in flower for almost a month now and is almost at the end of its flowering.
The Strawberry saxifrage (Saxifraga stolonifera) is now in bloom just in front of the gate at the bottom of the garden (in the colours of the Ukrainian flag). They are pretty white flowers, and there seem to be lots of little fairies flying around.
The climbing roses in the side yard garden have flowered a little late and are now in full bloom. The pink rose is Mary Delaney and the yellow rose is The Pilgrim. Both are English roses by David Austin.
Catmint is now in full bloom in the blue border garden. Just a touch and you can smell the delicious fragrance. The video also shows other plants in this flower bed.