Linda finds a Garden Clinic member in Japan and takes a walk around her garden.
It’s amazing to think that there are members of the Garden Clinic Club who don’t live in Australia and who garden in conditions very different form our own. But with the radio programme now being ‘podcast’ or broadcast over the internet we are now listened to by people all over the world. One Saturday we received an email through 2GB from Rie saying, “I just wanted to say hello to you and please don't forget Japanese listeners like me!!”
Rie is a keen gardener who lived in Hobart, Tasmania for three years. Last year she moved back to Japan and now listens to the radio show via the web during her commute time. She says, “Thanks for the lovely programs, you make my day happy every time!!” Inspired by her time in Australia, Rie has started her own garden using Japanese native plants.
Rie lives in Nagoya, on the main island Honshu, which we think is one of the prettiest places in Japan. Every autumn this is the site of the world’s largest chrysanthemum exhibition and in spring the flowering cherries are breathtaking. Nagoya is also famous for its fairytale castle topped with two gold dolphins. The ciy is also home to a Botanical Gardens and a zoo.
One big problem Rie has encountered on her garden adventure is the change in season. Japan “has a completely opposite season to Australia so I usually confuse especially autumn and spring.” She hasn’t let this become an obstacle, and has simply requested podcasts of the radio show from last autumn to help her out.
Rie is interested in Australian plants as well as Japanese natives, and eighteen months ago germinated some Australian native seeds. She now has some vigorous kangaroo paws growing in her garden, which she looks forward to seeing flower: kangaroo paws take up a few years to flower when grown from seed. Obsessed by the world of gardening and passionate about the Garden Clinic Club, Rie wants to meet up with Graham’s tour group on his Autumn (November) tour to Japan. “I'll be really happy if I can do it!!” Rie is particularly fond of her bonsai wisteria " Fuji". As space is at a premium in Japan many gardeners must be content with growing plants in pots and this is why bonsai is so popular. She also enjoys her cherry blossom bonsai ‘Sakura’, though the flower wasn't as good as the wisteria this year. Other flowers in Rie’s garden include viola, crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum) dianthus, and a garden cyclamen that she grew from seed last Japanese summer, enjoying the flowers during winter and late spring. Now Rie is also growing pumpkin, okura, green pelilla, cryptotaenia, Angelicva keiskei, raspberry, blueberry, tomato, Japanese capsicum "Shi Shi To U", Calibrachoa and roses. One of her space-saving clever tricks, is to grow pumpkin vertically!
Plant Notes - Rie's favourites
Crimson clover Trifolium incarnatum Known as Italian clover, this species of clover in the family Fabaceae is native to most of Europe. The species name incarnatum means "blood red". It is an upright annual herb to 20-50 cm tall. The flowers are produced throughout the spring and summer, rich red or crimson, congested on an elongated spike 3-5 cm tall. The individual flowers are up to 10-13 mm long and have five petals.
Japanese Wisteria (miniature) Wisteria floribunda 'Hime Fuji' This is a very compact plant with miniature leaves and growth making it the perfect choice for bonsai. The flowering habit of Japanese wisteria is perhaps the most spectacular of the wisteria family. It sports the longest flower racemes of any wisteria; they can reach nearly half a metre in length. These racemes burst into great trails of clustered white, violet, or blue flowers in early- to mid-spring. The flowers carry a distinctive fragrance similar to that of grapes. There are many cultivars available.
Ashitaba Angelica keiskei This green leafy vegetable is native to Japan where it has been eaten for hundreds of years. It’s renowned as a promoter of good health.
Million bells Calibrachoa This annual is a perfect highlight for pots and hanging baskets. Small, trumpet-shaped flowers about 2cm in size are brightly coloured and flower all year round. They are smaller, though similar in shape to petunias. Quick-growing and dome-shaped to 30cm high and 50cm wide. Plant in full sun and water well during the growing season.
Mitsuba, Japanese wild parsley Cryptotaenia japonicia Japanese wild parsley is raised as a seasoning (similar to angelica) and a strengthening tonic, and the sprouts are used in salads. English names for the plant include mitsuba, Japanese wild parsley, honeywort, san ip, and san ye qin. Like parsley, the flavor is clean and refreshing with a slightly bitter taste. Like mint mitsuba prefers growing in moist cool places.
Green Perilla or Shiso Perilla frutescens Japanese green perilla, or called Shi-So, is a very popular herb in Japan and many other Asian countries. The decorative green foliage is reminiscent of coleus. Cinnamon-scented leaves are popular in Japan for flavouring raw fish, bean curd, pickles and tempura. They are also used to give a scarlet colour to pickled plums and preserved ginger. Before sowing, chill seeds at 5°C for three days in moist sand. Plants grow best under full sun or partial shade in mild climates. Grows to 60cm.
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