Archive for the ‘photos’ tag
Cameo Quince ( Rosaceae Chaenomeles )
- Chaenomeles cameo quince
- Chaenomeles cameo quince
- Chaenomeles cameo quince
Back in Boston I had a quince that came with our home outside my office window. It was the first plant to flower every spring and my favorite.
Last fall I found a Cameo Quince and put it outside my office window down here in Houston. It was the first plant to bloom in the garden this year.
We are really at the lower edge of where it will grow ( zone 5a-8b ) and I’m not sure how well it will do in the summer but I couldn’t resist giving it a try.
This quince is planted in part shade but it will do well in full sun.
Chaenomeles cameo quince does not have the thorns many other quinces do.
In a cold winter quince will drop its leaves, this one retained its leaves all winter.
Watering needs are average.
Needs little pruning to keep its shape. Quince will reach about 5′ tall by 6′ wide.
Quince was a staple in Victorian gardens. The fruit must be cooked before eating. It was commonly baked in pies that are similar to apple pies.
Tokyo bonsai’d gardens
- bonsai’d pine – several ropes and bamboo posts help to force the form
- Bonsai’d pines along path to the Detached Palace
- bonsai’d pines in pots in front of a skyscraper
- bonsai’d pines in front of residence
- bonsai’d everything on path to shrine
- bonsai’d pines around shrine
- Bonsai’d pines in front of residence
- bonsai’d pine – several ropes and bamboo posts help to force the form
This first visit was in winter, our next will be in the summer and I’ll take more garden photos and visit lots of botanical gardens.
Every plant is bonsai’d in Tokyo, not just small potted plants, but 30′ trees and everything in between. No plant is safe.
Tokyo pocket gardens
- Gardens are often only a foot or two around the edge of a home
- City yard gardens tend toward lots of bonsai’d pines
- Sometimes the gardens are all in pots, especially along residential streets
- Potted gardens are common along residential city streets
- City pocket garden in Tokyo
- Vegetable garden along sidewalk in front of residence in Tokyo
- Residential garden on Tokyo street
- Residential garden on Tokyo street
It was winter on our first visit to Tokyo, so we’re saving the botanical garden visits until our summer visit.
In the older residential areas of Tokyo the homes are 1-3 stories tall and the sidewalks in front of the homes have pocket gardens in front of the homes, often less than a foot deep. Clusters of potted plants are common as are tiny vegetable plots.
Thryalis Galphimia gracilis
- Thryalis Galphimia g
- Thryalis Galphimia g
This shrub will easily reach 6′ tall in Houston and 4′ across. It is a very dense shrub right down to the ground. There’ll be no bare legs hanging out underneath.
Thryalis prefers full sun, it will grow in part shade but it’ll get leggy on you.
Blooms prolifically mid spring to early winter.
Drought tolerant once established. Excellent for barriers and low maintenance areas.
Birds, bees and butterflies are attracted to this plant.
Hardy to zone 8 but will die back in the winter in zone 8.
Propagate by cuttings.
Sometimes referenced as thryallis
Nothing interesting to report yet, this plant is only glancingly referenced in my books and I just picked it up this week.






















