Tiny gardens

So far we have been city-locked in the urban sprawl of Nagoya, Kobe and Kyoto visiting temples and markets.

We have seen many fantastic temple gardens.

Cherry blossoms

Holy Stones

Gardeners manicuring their lawns

So much it is overwhelming.

But “urban gardening” or “street gardening” hasn’t reached here yet – it’s always been here.

Inside a second-hand clothing store

The view from our window. A tiny traditional courtyard garden.

A parking building wall

Dispite all this greenery, there is still an enormous urban sprawl that is spreading in and outside the citys. Kyoto is quite different from what it was 40 years ago. Less small old fashioned homes and more modern buildings. Sad in a way.

We have still to get to the farming country-side which we have only seen from the lightning fast trains so far. Most gardens and fields are still resting from winter, altho I’ve seen some farmers starting and there is a lot growing under plastic.

The other day we passed an old lady planting peas in pots along the street in front of her home. I was too polite to take a picture.

Garden show

The weather got very gray yesterday, and I went to the Stockholm Garden Show for a bit of inspiration.

http://www.nordiskatradgardar.se

I spent all day trudging around, overloading my little brain with a cacophony of plants, bulbs, seeds, clothes, equiptment, accessories and what have you, as I do each year. My conclusion is that It was not as good as it has been – and no high points.

This was cool – a geodesic dome in kit form of light metal pipes and plastic.

And an electric wheelbarrow for my old age. I can charge it with my sollar panel.

The dome was the expo center for Frodas a garden center specializing in permaculture, hydroponics and ceramics.

http://frodas.org

Other highlights at the show were the permaculture group, another group propagating work horses in acriculture and forestry, and the very enthusiastic urban gardening gang.

There are a few places where I almost always meet friends to discuss the gardening year with – Runåbergs seeds, the organic gardening society FOBO, and The Biodynamic Society.

http://www.runabergsfroer.se
http://www.fobo.se
http://www.demeter.nu

At the later, I bought a packet of biodynamic compost preparations for the first time in 30 years – more on that later.

My favorite place is Blomqvist Nursery from Finland. This is the exhibit that makes the visit to the show every year worth while. They have plants and trees native to northern europe from Eastonia, Russia, Siberia, Finland and Sweden.

http://www.blomqvistintaimisto.com

Through the years I’ve gotten siberian blackberries, åkerbär, hjortron, and many old time plum and apple trees. This year i bought a himbergs prune tree (krikon), spulga grapes and a wojtek blueberry honeysuckle (bärtry). The vasa krikon was already sold out, so I’ll have to go to the show and visit them again next year.