I have always loved japanese maples. Moving here gave me the opportunity to indulge my passion.
Each birthday relatives bought a plant or small tree for the woodland walk.
Each year my collection grows, and memories of birthdays past are captured.
A gift from Mr P.....my favourite.....note the beautiful red bark.
Clematis shelter amongst the trees......'the President' with it's saucer sized blooms has to be the most showy.
A new addition is 'Proteus'. It features single, semi double, and double flowers. I love the colour, it takes me back to a bygone age.
The soil at the back of the garden is perfect for Rhodies. It is loamy, and slightly damp. Forgive me, I cannot remember the names, planted when I first moved here.
A gift from my parents........she is looking a little tired. I shall give her a good feed today and mulch with leaf mould. She will be fine.
I have to smile sometimes. I created a woodland area and rabbits arrived. Should I be surprised, not really. Last night they feasted on the allium buds. They ate ten plants and left me five. The journey continues.......
20 comments:
You are very tolerant, I think I would be waging thermo-nuclear war on those bunnies by now (not sure how seeing as like you I won't use poisons).
Hi Bilbo....with age comes tolerance, I believe.
To be honest they can frustrate me but I am slowly learning to live with them.
Nella does keep numbers down, fortunately......
I love bunnies, we have only a very few show up as I live in the city...but they are here. Makes me smile everytime I see one. Garden looks lovely, Gina
It seems that Nella needs some help. You need a young dog that will keep the rabbits at bay. The rotten buggers. Don't you wish they would eat only the unwanted flowers. Ha... I was only dreaming. Your J Maples are gorgeous especially the one Mr P gave you.
Hi Lisa.....Nella is a young dog ...she is four. The rabbits do their damage at night, not during the day. Nella is indoors at that time. I would get a cat but Nella hates them and my grandson has a severe allergy.
I would love them being here, if they just ate the grass.....
Hi Gina......if I didn't smile, I might cry !
I love Japanese maples but they don't do well here in my area. You are very lucky they like your climate.
Those bunnies are a pest. Maybe Nella should get more garden time:)
Marnie
Cheryl,
Rabbits used to be my nemesis but Mother Nature gave them a hard time last year and we're down to a single (large) bunny that does have a penchant for my grass. I can live with that. My husband says we all have to co-exist but when your french beans have been nibbled to stalks it's hard to stay that pragmatic! Squirrels have now taken over as my public enemy No 1. Don't get me started.... Lovely acer photos. Ours are doing really well this year so let's hope it's a good season for them. Lesley
Hi Marnie.....Nella caught a rabbit today. Not the large buck sadly.
Bless her, she is run ragged, she has been outside all day. By the time the day closes she is ready for bed. So am I!!
Hi Lesley.....it would be fine if they ate the grass, it would save me mowing. Squirrels do not cause much damage here.....I hope I do not regret saying that!!
Glad your acers are doing well....
What a naughty little bunny! I think you need to have my Chrissy for a visit. Although Bo is very tolerant of visitors to our garden, Chrissy is not. She is a fierce protector, and is vigilant that no squirrels dare step a paw onto our property line! Too bad she mistook a skunk for a squirrel a couple years back. ;-)
Your Japanese maples are beautiful. I have always loved them too. Such graceful lacy trees with wonderful color.
Those maples are gorgeous Cheryl. And the bunny is soooo cute - I know, I know! I agree with Lisa - Nella could use some help.
Good news here - there is not a single active vole in my garden at the moment. It's important to remain vigilant though.
I'm afraid those bunnies have decided your sanctuary is their sanctuary:) I didn't realize you had so many Japanese maples, Cheryl; they're beautiful! I would love to add one here, but they're very expensive and I'm not sure how well they'd do out in open countryside like ours. I guess I should just start with a small one and find a sheltered spot for it. I love the rhododendrons, too, especially after seeing all the huge ones in Portland.
I just have to chime in again. Rose, Japanese Maples are extremely resilient. We get to over 100 degrees here in the Summer and if there is some shade, they do quite well. Even if they get burned a bit, they usually recover nicely.
I just returned from Portland last week and I was floored by the rhododendrons - definitely not a great choice here!
Dear Cheryl,
You are very kind....the rabbits are enjoying your tolerance....
Lovely Japanese Maples so many gifts of love. A Birthday walk...
Your gardens are full of sweet memories.
Sherry
Hi, Cheryl, lovely photos again and beautiful Japanese Maples, how lovely that each one holds a special memory.
I have seen so many rabbits while out and about in the last few days and every single time I have thought of you and your ongoing 'battle' with them. Of course the truth is that (as you know, yourself) you have done your job so well that they are an inevitability. I can't remember if you have told us if you have foxes visiting regularly...they could cover the night shift while Nella is sleeping :)
Hi Jan
Thank you....
Sadly the farmers often shoot the foxes. I see more foxes in the towns these days. I am pretty sure if the foxes were left alone, rabbit numbers would drop dramatically......
Whilst I do not like Nella taking the rabbits, if she did not, I would not have a garden for bees and butterflies. She is swift and not a cruel dog. She does her job and gives the rabbit to me.
I can cope with that now, it has taken a long time. Like you, I am one of lifes sensitives.....
I LOVE Japanese maples. We had a large on in the front yard of my childhood home, and I think of being a kid every time I see one.
I also love Japanese maples and while we otherwise have only "native" plants, we do have a Japanese maple that is thriving. Such a beautiful little tree. Our coyote population has kept the bunny population well under control.
Cheryl,
Your garden is absolutely lovely. I sure like the Japanese maples, the purple clematis, and your Rhodies. What a beautiful posting. I showed this to my mother and she just loves your flowers.
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