Wild Hostas at Shadowlands, Japan

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Dear All,

Yes, I am back in Japan and have been since 1st April. Work has kept me silent for a long time (the joys of lecturing 10 classes a week), but the garden has been developing and I have from time-to-time managed to snap photos. So lots to come. The cherry blossom was, as I had hoped, lovely, but much later than I had expected (just two weeks ago!). We have had really unseasonably changeable weather and a lot of rain: and I mean rain! A few days ago we had 250 mms rain in a day and the road up to our house was closed for safety reasons. We proceeded ‘at our own risk’. Then recently we had a bizarre twister-like weather episode where the sky suddenly grew black and within 30 secs ferocious winds blasted us for about a minute and heavy rain, then all was calm again. I think it was the same weather system that caused the twister (highly unusual in Japan) in Ibaraki prefecture which killed one person and caused a 15 kms trail of destruction (front-page news). Anyhow, a new lawn has been seeded (photos to come) and it shows promise, but the most interesting aspect to date has been the emergence (popping up everywhere) of wild hostas! This will drive you hosta fans wild too! Don’t forget that hostas are native to Japan (and parts of China and Korea), and were only introduced to the West by Siebold who lived in Japan for a number of years (in the 18th/early 19th century as I recall). It is from these hostas that all the variations you have in your gardens originate! It’s such a privilege to see them growing wild and I feel really as if I am witnessing history when I see them popping up! So many other things to note, but alas, not yet the time! Enjoy my IPhone snap of living botanical history! Ptarotuos

• 9 May, 2012
• 7 likes

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