Mom’s Garden

At the end of summer, my mom broke her thigh bone. She had an operation and now staying a rehabilitation hospital. She’s of great age, and med-doc said it was of osteoporosis. Our family hope she’ll come home before Christmas and tending her precious garden as much as possible, if not as before … Meanwhile, her garden has not had regular care for a couple of months. One day, suddenly, I noticed the change.

I don’t know why, but many many many seedlings of bush clover (Lespedeza bicolor) sprouted all over. At first, I had a sort of “OK, we neglected the care here …” kind of detached attitude. But soon I realized if we left it as such mom would be upset when she comes home. So, these days I pull the bush clovers out when I can find time … and the task is still going on. Not only Japanese clover, but also many other wild vegetation is eyeing for the pole position for sunshine. American Gamochaeta pensylvanica (Pennsylvania everlasting) and sedges begun spreading their root firmly. (Whoops, gosh, gosh, gosh …) Creeping woodsorrels are still flowering even in November in order to spread their seed widely during winter. (Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing!)

In contrast those pretty flowers from garden centers in Yokohama started to be buried under the vigorous leaves of wild comers. I’m a sort of amazed to witness vital force of undomesticated ones. They don’t miss well-fertilized ground that has been unattended for some time. And good-looking varieties are no match for these worriers … Er, OK. I have to make the place presentable to mom when she returns in few weeks’ time. Tasks are waiting!

If you find a problem in the greenery of north-half of Yokohama, please make a contact with

Office for the Park Greeneries in the North
北部公園緑地事務所
Yokohama Municipal Government Creative Environment Policy Bureau
横浜市環境創造局
Phone: 045-311-2016
FAX: 045-316-8420