Japanese Garden Etc.

Hello Everyone,

Its been a while, but I had not much to say. Am "quietly" gardening and taking care of domestic business but the Mystical side of things has gone to the deep end or is it over the deep end? I don't know what to make of many things I thought I used to know. Its more than just ''things change'', that's not it at all, in fact I love mostly, that things do change. But the meaning of it, the understanding, eludes me. And yet this elusive understanding of life remains so despite some of the most brilliant of minds applying their genius to this mystery of ''why''.

Today I have some pics I've taken, lots! and thank GOD I have still enough Spirit to be inspired to see this beauty, enough heart to feel gratitude and enough presence of mind to grab my camera and take some pictures for posterity and for you. Enjoy.

 I had taken out the grapevine that no longer produced its beautiful muscadine grapes, we didn't eat them anyway. I did make a good tincture out of the one crop I did get, and muscadines are supposed to be the greatest source of resveratrol there is. I should start taking the tincture I made.
But in its place I added the tree that was mulched and 4 pots of roses...these white ones are beautifully fragrant. I am loving having some roses.

The pond lilies doing well, and now the lotus (not pictured) are coming up and they multiplied. We have 3 plants now and I expect we shall have more than one bloom at a time. I don't mind if they take over.

The front gate, full of blooming things.

This area around the pond I mentioned in my last posts we were making into a Japanese Garden. This is how it looked as I began to remove the weeds and things we had there.
I talked John into getting some metal borders to keep the plants in, but I changed the plan and he brought them back for a refund. I decided instead to do the most economical thing and use sod.

It was really just a weedy mess and the plants we put in never did well.

At this point below, the weeds were removed and the tubings and wires for the pond and lights were exposed. I had to figure out how to hide those. The sod was again the easy answer....as well as a "fake rock".

 






Before:
 








 After....same angle.
 







I got up one morning and the nightlights were still on, I thought it looked nice.....

 



 



 






 The principals of a Japanese Garden is simplicity, serenity and tidyness. The ''bones'' being water,  rock/s and plantings along with a well placed lantern. I will have to keep the grass trimmed. This is why I loved the idea of the Japanese garden in this area, its because its LOW maintenance and I don't have to think about replacing plants or having anything die....its all greens. The Pagoda, rock, Juniper, Topiary and lantern make it Japanese, and the neat trimmed edges and low grasses give its signature style.
 









 The lights went out as I was taking pictures.

 





In these next three, a little friend looking for my attentions to feed it breakfast are here...hysterical!
 






 






No matter where I point the camera, the little bird walked into the frame pretending to be nonchalant! LOL

 



 




 During the day in full sun. Its more opened up now and I much prefer it.

 







 Ok, on to the front where the bougainvilleas I planted last year are in bloom....they love dry winter.

 These colors are perfection.

 The hanging baskets on the Gazebo are doing well with the ivies.

 

A comfy spot on the papa san, with pillows.....

 Washed my whites for the summer which is mostly what I wear all season.

  A beautiful dish of succulents.

Seedlings of purple cauliflower coming up.

 My Gardenia Standard (topiary) is blooming well this year. It took only one dose!! of pickle juice to remove all the problems of this plant! I couldn't believe it. This one I had for years but it did nothing, but have black mold on the leaves and never bloomed. One day John went out with his pickle juice left over from his sandwiches, and he added it to the soil....said his grandmother used to do that for her bushes and they were gorgeous. I didn't know about my gardenia topiary smelling like pickles and garlic but it wasn't doing well anyway. Well! within a week all the black mold was gone, and I was impressed with organic fertilizer and ''old school ways'' once again. I too gave it a few feedings of pickle juice and sure enough, the leaves began filling in and getting large, lush and bright green and this year as per its season for blooming, I've had over a dozen blooms and all the leaves are beautiful. And it smells like Gardenia! lol

 One of my favorite pots, finally found a spot it likes for a while....

Thanks for visiting.


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