Petit English Garden of MARPLE & POIROT

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.

庭の紹介

　夫婦で庭づくりを福岡の郊外で2003年に始めました.　赤土むきだしの斜面にまず階段や園路をつくって芝をはり、果樹やバラ、ハーブなどを植えました.

　2010年にイギリスの有名なガーデンの、シシングハースト、モティスフォントアビー、ヒドコートマナーなどを回り、その素晴らしさに圧倒され、それから自分たちで小さくても素晴らしい庭をめざして庭づくりをつづけています.

1/27/2026

GROUND CHERRY RIPENING IN WINTER (冬に熟すホオズキトマト)

Several years ago, I received ground cherry seedlings from a gardening friend. Since then, I've collected seeds, propagated the seedlings, and cultivated them annually. They are perennials and can overwinter. Last year, seedlings planted alongside strawberries in a large pot grew exceptionally large. By autumn, they bore abundant berries. Gradually ripening, the pods turned a pale brown while the berry inside turned yellow, ready for harvest. Even deep into winter, the branches and leaves remain unfrozen, with berries continuing to ripen slowly. They appear quite hardy against the cold. The yellow berry has a slightly tropical, sweet-and-sour flavour and is absolutely delicious. They contain numerous small seeds, which seem to have a good germination rate.

ホオズキトマトの苗を数年前に庭友さんから頂いて、それから種をとって苗を育てたりしながら、毎年育ててきました。そして昨年はイチゴと一緒に大きな鉢に植え付けた苗がとても大きく育ち、秋にたくさんの実をつけて、少しずつその実が熟して袋は薄茶色になり、中の実は黄色くなったのを収穫していただいています。真冬になっても枝葉は枯れず、すこしずつ実が熟しています。寒さに結構強いようです。黄色い実はちょっとトロピカルな甘酸っぱい味がしてとてもおいしいです。小さな種がたくさん入っていて、種の発芽率も良いようです。