Astible, False Spirea

From my summer garden a few years ago, I've pulled this picture my other blog, where it doesn't belong!



With the purple spikes, it's about a foot and a half high. It certainly likes part shade, moist soil, and being kept cool surrounded by other plants.

Mossy Roof, Kyoto

Moss adorns the roof over the front gate of a house in Kyoto. Taken last year during a walk in a residential section of the city.

Almost Spring, Japan

Early March in Kyoto, pictures from 2008: Almost Spring in Kyoto

Spring is Just around the Corner

We've seen the last of the snow, the tulips are pushing up their leaves, the rains have finished, the skies are sunny - seems like spring is almost here. Too cold to venture out into the garden for me. I've started a few seeds.

I may even grow more vegetables this year apart from the usual tomato and green and hot pepper plants.

There are new neighbors. Wonder what they will plant?

Climbing rose bush

This climbing rose bush blooms like crazy every year then stops after the first flowers fade. In 2007, I trimmed the bush and waited to see if it would continue producing flowers through the summer!

it didn't very much. I think it's a one-time perennial bloomer.

Sour cherry tree

A post from June 2007 re the backyard cherry tree.

No sour grapes here, even though heavy spring rains and winds flattened the cherry blossoms and discouraged the bees that usually pollinate this tree.

As a result there are about one-third or less of the usual amount of cherries this year. I decided not to pick them but to leave them for the birds, and for those eager backyard squirrels - gymnasts who hang upside down and adopt fasicinating postures to get at the fruit.


The tree is a Montmorency sour cherry, I believe, which is self pollinating, though when I bought the tree it was labeled a McKinley cherry tree. I was told that it needed another tree of the same kind for pollination. The tree has fruited every year, so either there is a similiar tree in the neighborhood or the tree really is a Montmorency.


In the past I have been creative with the cherries - have stewed the fruit with lots of sugar, removed the seeds, and made a cherry syrup to put in sangria, make a cherry drink, or pour over ice cream. I have also pitted the fruit and cooked them down in sugar to make filling for a traditional pie. So has my neighbor, who exchanges tomatoes from his garden for a bowl of our sour cherries!


Wonder how well the tree will blossom in spring 2009 after a harsh winter? And will there be enough bees to ensure a full covering of cherries?

Banana Tree

The plant has been doing well facing south in zone 5, and has so far weathered the cold while indoors by the window.