Experiences – Life – Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵

While the temperatures have dropped to a more comfortable level, allowing for daily walks with Chappie, I find myself eagerly anticipating the end of the growing season and the departure of mosquitoes.

I’m continuing my permaculture journey in the garden. To be honest, I didn’t do nothing during the hot, humid summer; rather, I diligently collected kitchen scraps and added them to my compost mound throughout the season.

I am still focused on enriching the soil naturally. Over the past few months, I’ve mainly kept my hands out of the garden, opting instead to observe how the plants are thriving compared to last year.

I must admit, there are still many unknowns for me. During walks with Chappie, I often notice the vibrant array of flowers blooming in my neighbors’ gardens. In contrast, our own garden remains quite sparse when it comes to floral life. I envision a garden filled with native flowers that bloom throughout the seasons, adding charm and vibrancy to the space with a new flower gracing the garden each month.

So I did some digging and discovered a selection of native Japanese wildflowers that bloom year-round. These flowers possess a natural, meadow-like aesthetic, blending seamlessly into a garden setting. Whether they will all actually grow and bloom here is an open question, but I am willing to give it a try.

Spring (March – May)

1. Harujion (Philadelphia Fleabane) – Erigeron philadelphicus (April – June): Small daisy-like pink and white flowers that grow on tall, slender stems.
2. Katakuri (Dogtooth Violet) – Erythronium japonicum (March – April): Delicate, nodding purple or pink flowers with speckled leaves, often found in shaded areas.
3. Sumire (Japanese Violet) – Viola mandshurica (March – May): Low-growing, small purple flowers that spread easily.

Summer (June – August)

1. Ominaeshi (Patrinia) – Patrinia scabiosifolia (July – September): Small clusters of bright yellow flowers on tall, slender stems, resembling yarrow.
2. Nadeshiko (Dianthus) – Dianthus superbus (June – July): Fringed pink flowers with a soft, delicate appearance and a pleasant fragrance.
3. Miyako-gusa (Japanese Bird’s-Foot Trefoil) – Lotus japonicus (June – August): Cheerful small yellow flowers commonly found in grassy areas and along roadsides.

Autumn (September – November)

1. Akino-kirinsou (Japanese Goldenrod) – Solidago virgaurea subsp. asiatica (September – October): Yellow, spike-like flower clusters that attract pollinators.
2. Hagi (Japanese Bush Clover) – Lespedeza bicolor (August – October): Bush-like stems adorned with small pink or purple flowers, resembling wild clover.
3. Murasaki-tsutsuji (Japanese Wild Aster) – Aster ageratoides (September – November): Pale purple, daisy-like flowers that form dense clusters.

Winter (December – February)

1. Fukujusou (Japanese Adonis) – Adonis amurensis (February – March): Bright yellow flowers that appear close to the ground, marking one of the first signs of spring.
2. Setsubunsou (Japanese Eranthis) – Eranthis pinnatifida (January – February): Small, white, buttercup-like flowers that bloom even in snowy conditions.
3. Yukiwariso (Snowbreak Grass) – Hepatica nobilis var. japonica (February – March): Small purple or pink blooms that emerge from the snow.

With these flowers, I aim to infuse our garden with a natural charm and a splash of color without the height and structure of trees or shrubs, making them perfect for a wildflower-inspired landscape.

Regardless, my initial gardening goal to create a karikomi style garden hasn’t changed. It’s just that the shrubs haven’t grown bushy enough yet to shear them into these cute balls. Of course, I can’t speed up the growth of my shrubs, but what I can do is improve the soil’s fertility, which should enhance their growth.

#Permaculture #Gardening #NativeFlowers #Wildflowers #SustainableLiving #GardenDesign #Nature #ChappieAdventures #SeasonalBlooms #Compost #JapaneseWildflowers