The Maple Show is OVER!

by Maggie C. (text) and aleks (pics)

SJG •  11/8/14 - Koto-no-Ito maple in the courtyard;
Maggie:  'Acer palmatum ‘Koto-no-Ito - Terrific!'

Last Saturday we had a continuing education class on fall maples in Japanese Garden. A few days before the event Maggie went to the Garden to inspect the trees and this is what she reported to the rest of the Plant List Committee (a hapless group that was tasked with educating/informing the rest of docents on the autumnal state of our maples):

SJG • 11/8/14 - Koto-no-Ito leaves:  each year's new growth produces wider leaves, with more chlorophyl in them: after the leaves drop, they reemerge in spring in narrower form, which results in temporary two-tone autumn color:  this year's leaves are still green while re-emerged leaves are narrow and already turned into yellow  strings.

Hello Plant Listers,
[...]

I visited the garden today to take a look at the Maples.  And the news isn’t very good…Here is a summary:

Acer capillipes - very few leaves in area Z;  more leaves remain in are M, but they are pretty brown

‘Burgandy Lace’ - okay for leaves, but the color is dull

Acer japonicum ‘Aconitifolium’ - maybe 10 brown shaggy leaves left

Acer palmatum ‘Shigitatsu sawa’ - mabye 20 brown shaggy leaves left

Acer circinatum - no leaves left

Acer nikoense - Actually quite a few colorful red leaves

Acer palmatum ‘Samidare’ - still leaves on the tree, and they are dull yellow or green

Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’ - still green leaves on the tree; at the treetop, a few changing to yellow 

Acer plamatum ‘Omato’ - forgot to make a note, but think the leaves are on and are red

Acer palmatum ‘Tsuma Gake’ - leaves on…the fall color is dull brown

Acer palmatum ‘Koto-no-Ito - Terrific!

Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki Akame’ - Terrific!

Acer griseum Paper Bark Maple - very few leaves; mostly old samaras

Acer japonicum ‘Vitifolium’ - leaves all gone

Acer palmatum ‘Yatsubusa’ - many rather dull brown leaves

Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’ - Area B specimen has no leaves; Area C has orange leaves

SJG • 11/8/14 - Acer palmatum 'Dissectum' in Area C: few orange leaves still attached, but most of them are blanketing the ground below the tree (a.p. 'Dissectum' in Area B is completely bare)

The combo of such a warm fall, then rain and wind, and the Maple Tour scheduled this late in the fall, our tour is a bit compromised.   What is providing color…the Ginkos, Acer Japonica, and blooming Camellia Sasanquas.

Thinking that the paucity of the maples might shorten the tour,   maybe we spend a bit more time in the Tateuchi room talking about the maples?  We hand our the  Maples booklet, the glossary, bibliography, and the Maple Information sheet, right? 

[...]

Maggie

SJG • 11/8/14 euonymus myrianthus fruit
in Area S (native to W. China)

SJG • 11/8/14 - euonymus hamiltonianus
in Area L (native to Japan to Himalayas)

Maple leaves being or not being there, we still had a grand time: looked at magnificent ginkos,  blooming camellias, euonymus and persimmon in fruit.

SJG • 11/8/14 - diospyros kaki or Chinese Persimmon in the orchard: quite a few fruits  this year  (first fruit in 2004), but what about its yellow leaves? Unlike in Issa's 1813 haiku (trans. by David Lanoue):
.柿の葉や真赤に成て直にちる
kaki no ha ya makka ni natte sugu ni chiru
persimmon leaves--
once they turn crimson
game over