Hooray! It's Finally Blooming

Two years ago my husband gave me a lilac bush for Mother's Day. This year it finally bloomed and smells lovely!

My lilac with my neighbor's tulips peeking out in the background.

My little lilac and the neighbor's large lilac. (The stake marks the property line.)

I wish I could share the fragrance too.

Neighbor's dark purple lilac - smells really good also!

Friday's Frugal Round-up

I honestly can't think of anything I did this week, out of the ordinary, to spend less.

However.

Another part of frugality is taking care of what you have and planning ahead. Thursday I spent some time in the warm sunshine cleaning out my flower bed.

Before

After

Sweet William and Daffodils

Daffodils

 At least I hope they are daffodils. I planted some mystery bulbs in the fall of 2014; all they produced last year were green leaves. I'm hoping they produce flowers this year.

I'm working on a landscaping plan for the whole yard so I can beautify our grounds and put in some edible plants too.

Second Garden of the Day

Hama-rikyu Gardens

"Gardens of the Tokugawa Shogun family representing the Edo era, famous for its "Shiori-no-Ike" pond and two duck ponds. The Shiori pond is designed featuring a landscape that changes with the ebb and low of the tides. These are the only tidewater ponds which still remain in Tokyo."

Cherry trees against the backdrop of skyscrapers:

Part of the rock wall lining the canal to Tokyo Bay through which the tidewaters flow.

"This pine was planted 300 years ago to commemorate the great renovations made to the garden by the 6th shogun Ienobu. The thick branches spread out low, presenting a proud, imposing view."

Showing some of the branch supports. I was fascinated at how many ancient trees I saw around Tokyo, held up by supports and nurtured rather than destroyed.

A variety of bamboo growing on a slope. I saw some beautiful bamboo groves, but never when I had my camera ready. (Darn)

A view of one of the ponds.

PFCMom and my sweet hostess.

"This is a rest house where the shogun, ladies and Imperial Court nobles enjoyed a view that they were all very fond of. The present building is a restored one built in 1983. Here you can enjoy powdered green tea and Japanese sweets."

Matsu-no-ochaya (Pine Teahouse)

"One of the teahouses built in the time of the 11th shogun Ienari. While it was destroyed by fire during the war, it was restored in 2010 based on research of the remains including cornerstones. By construction faithful to the historical sources, a landscape redolent of bygone days has been recreated."

In the midst of a gigantic, bustling city, I enjoyed this oasis of peace and beauty. I could well imagine what it was like hundreds of years ago. The two gardens we visited gave me some ideas of what I could do with my own little plot of ground in Iowa.

Japanese Public Gardens

We return to the regularly scheduled travelogue with our visit to two public gardens in Tokyo.

Kyu-Shiba-rikyu Garden is one of the oldest Daimyo gardens dating back to the beginning of the Edo era. (1603-1868) A green oasis surrounded by tall building, this beautiful garden features the typical elements of a Japanese landscape garden, including a pond and man-made hills, symbolizing the ocean, lakes and mountains of the real world, and circular walking trails to enjoy the garden from various perspectives.

During the Edo Period, the garden was built on land reclaimed from Tokyo Bay, and served as the residence of various feudal lords and government officials. In 1875, after the fall of the feudal government, it was turned into the Shiba Detached Imperial Villa, however, all the buildings were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.

We happened upon a couple having wedding photos taken and asked if we could take their picture in their traditional clothing. They consented and then asked that we join them in a picture for their album.

Noble and I like the juxtaposition of ancient and modern.

Our hosts told us that there are over 100 varieties of cherry trees in Japan. Many were still in bloom.

Including this one with green blossoms. Incredible!

We met lots of friendly fish in the pond too.

An interesting bamboo fence.