今日の動画:乙女椿(オトメツバキ)
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 plum blossoms are in bloom. It is the first fruit tree to flower in our garden. I planted two trees about twenty years ago, but one suddenly died a few years back, so now there is only one left. The variety is Santa Rosa, a plum with a delicious acidic flavour. Although the yield isn’t huge, it bears fruit every year and we enjoy eating it.
スモモの花が咲いています。庭で最初に花が咲く果樹です。20年ほど前に2本植えましたが、数年前に一本が突然枯れて、今は一本だけになりました。品種はサンタローザで、酸味がおいしいスモモです。たくさんではありませんが、毎年実をつけてくれて美味しくいただいています。
Yesterday, we visited the Fukuoka Flower Show 2026, which is currently being held at Fukuoka City Botanical Garden. Although the weather was rather unfortunate, with light rain setting in during the afternoon, the main events—such as the announcement of the garden competition results and the guided tours—took place in the morning under a patchy sun and were very well attended. Two garden designers were awarded gold medals. The show runs until the 26th. Please do take a look at the video, which showcases the competition gardens and the venue.
昨日、福岡市植物園で開催されている福岡フラワーショー2026に行ってきました。初日は午後から小雨が降り出すあいにくの天気でしたが、メインイベントのガーデンコンテスト結果発表や解説ツアーなどは薄日の射す午前中に行われて大変にぎわいました。二人のガーデンデザイナーがゴールドメダルを獲得しました。ショーは26日まで開催されます。動画ではコンテストの庭や会場の様子などを紹介していますので、どうぞご覧ください。
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| A long queue formed at the entrance 入場口には長い列ができていました |
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| Members of the judging panel 審査委員の方々 |
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| Mr Dave Green, winner of the Gold Medal, and Mr Sinclair, the chairman of the judging panel (top), and his garden (bottom) ゴールドメダルを受賞したデイブグリーンさんと審査委員長のシンクレアさん(上)とその庭(下) |
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| Rain in the afternoon 午後は雨に |
Chinese violet cress blooms here and there in the garden from March to April. It self-seeds and grows every year, producing beautiful purple flowers. The bright green leaves are lovely too. On fine days, several bees fly in to feed on the nectar.
オオアラセイトウは3月から4月に庭のあちこちで咲きます。こぼれ種で毎年育ってきれいな紫色の花を咲かせます。葉の明るい緑色もきれいです。お天気の良い日はミツバチが何匹も飛んできて蜜を吸っています。
I noticed today that the wild cherry tree in the garden has produced a dozen or so blossoms. It is still a young tree, having been planted only several years ago. It began flowering the year before last.
庭の山桜の木が今日、10数輪開花させているのを見つけました。この山桜はまだ若木で、植えて数年です。一昨年から花をつけ始めました。
It is now mid-March and the roses in the garden are beginning to bud. Along the brick wall, the Pat Austin and Graham Thomas on the right are producing plenty of new shoots. The Gertrude Jekyll on the left is a little behind, but this is the case every year. The Angela above the arch is also sprouting profusely. Looking down from the balcony onto the potager garden, the flower buds of the Rosa banksiae—the earliest bloomer in the garden—are beginning to swell slightly. The shrub roses in the potager’s border beds are also sprouting. The roses will be in full bloom from early May onwards.
3月中旬になり庭のバラが芽吹いています。レンガ塀では右側のパットオースチンとグラハムトーマスがたくさん新芽を出しています。左のガートルードジェキルは少し遅れていますが、これは毎年のことです。アーチの上のアンジェラもたくさん芽吹いています。バルコニーからポタジェガーデンを見下ろすと、庭で一番早く咲くモッコウバラの花芽が少し膨らんでいます。ポタジェのボーダー花壇のシュラブローズも芽吹いています。本格的にバラが咲くのは5月の上旬からです。
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| Graham Thomas and Pat Austin グラハムトーマスとパットオースチン |
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| Gertrude Jekyll ガートルードジェキル |
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| Angela アンジェラ |
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| The arch and the brick wall アーチとレンガ塀 |
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| Potager garden, looking down from the balcony バルコニーからみたポタジェガーデン |