Unbelievable colors, beautiful Japanese maples
Japanese maples, of the Acer genus, are remarkable trees that offer so much diversity of color, texture, size, and form, including dwarf, weeping, and upright. And with so many cultivated varieties available, you can find suitable cultivars, which will grow beautifully in sun, shade, containers, and even as bonsai. Japanese maples are relatively small trees and when many are planted together, it makes for an extraordinary grove.
My good friends, Michael and Judy Steinhardt, have an amazing piece of property near my home in Bedford, and they are so fortunate to have such a grove. Several years ago, the Steinhardts hired Jerome and Carole Rocherolle, of Shanti Bithi Nursery in Stamford, Connecticut to oversee the design and landscaping of their property. One of their first projects was to transform a collection of 50 Japanese maples, growing on a slope, into a meditative and serene setting. Today, this thriving grove has more than 400 cultivars from all around the world and strolling through it is indeed, a spiritual and serene experience. It is particularly exciting to visit in the autumn when the gorgeous foliage is aglow with brilliance. Please have a tour of my gallery. The name of each Acer follows its photos.
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This collection of photos is truly a treasure!
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | November 19th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
OMG what splendor and look at that cute little red bridge too!
I can't think of anything more beautiful except for your flower gardens maybe. I know I'll be looking at these pictures several times more and wishing I could take a stroll and see them in person. Thanks for posting them!
I also appreciate all your Thanksgiving podcasts on itunes. I'm almost finished with downloading them now and it's great to see these episodes again. Trish
Posted by: Trish | November 19th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Hi Martha, Unbelievable colors is right! Your photos of these Japanese Maples are absolutely stunning! I can't believe that I looked at the whole gallery- all 170 outstanding photos. This is like taking a tour in a beautiful arboretum. Your friends certainly did produce a glamorous, serene grove. I have a beautiful Japanese Maple similar to photo #166. It has very delicate leaves and has a weeping shape over a bonsai shaped trunk. Thanks again for taking us along on this wonderful tour. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | November 19th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
These would make wounderful screen savers. Some of the colors were unbelieveable!
Posted by: cheri | November 19th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
You're an inspiration for all women, Martha.
I don't always get to see the show but I always visit your webpage. Roberta~~
Posted by: roberta | November 20th, 2008 at 2:10 am
Fabulous collection!
Posted by: flyingchange | November 20th, 2008 at 2:50 am
Martha:
How serene, such beautiful pictures, I can just imagine myself walking the path with such beauty around every corner.
These pictures would make a beautiful calendar.
Betsy
Posted by: Betsy Mech | November 20th, 2008 at 3:36 am
These pictures would make a spectacular book.
Posted by: Linda Crispell | November 20th, 2008 at 3:54 am
400 cultivars! And, in a park setting. I am bookmarking these photos so that I can peruse them more carefully. So much to see!
Thanks,
Cameron
Posted by: Cameron (Defining Your Home Garden) | November 20th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Absolutely lovely! Thank you for the tour!
Posted by: Rebecca | November 20th, 2008 at 6:30 am
What wonderful cataloguing of the Acer genus, Martha! This is fabulous detail of all the different cultivars - very useful information, I'd say. I love how you give us a close-up photo of the leaf habit, then the landscape version, and the name tag (those plaques are quite sophisticated!) as the follow up to summarize the particular species/cultivar. I LOVELOVELOVE labeling plants, and have my hostas and daylilies marked with the large zinc markers. I have numerous different types of herb markers, too (non-plastic, everlasting ones)...I just love them and want more-n-more (even though I don't need them). Your neighbors have a b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l aboretum on their property. I always think it's one thing to create a planting bed out in the open, BUT when a garden is created in the understory of a forest setting - well, that's pretty special to me, as it creates another type of ecosystem, being nestled in underneath other specimens of other varieties of trees (deciduous/conifers, etc). It's just beautiful to see color underneath trees towering above!
(...As I switch gears again...) I LOVE the new Macy's Christmas commercial! ("Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus") This story is near-n-dear to my husband's heart - he actually has a framed print of the original editorial! (Fellow readers, it is by Francis P. Church and first appeared in The (New York) Sun on September 21, 1897). You, Martha, always look fabulous in those commercials, and this one for Christmas is pretty special! I hope everyone eventually gets to see it this holiday season.
In closing, chuuuch!
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | November 20th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Such gorgeous bold autumn color! I just love this time of year!
Posted by: Kari | November 20th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Just beautiful, Martha. Truly a magical place! I noticed this garden was open to visitors this year as part of the Garden Conservancy's "Open Days" program. Now I wish I had made the trip to see it. But your photos are proof enough of its splendor.
-Andrew
Posted by: Andrew Ritchie | November 20th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Oh wow Martha...Japanese Maples are my favorite....well one of my favorites...
great photos!
Hugs
Diana
Posted by: Diana Evans | November 20th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Breath taking colors, and wishing every moment I was strolling and enjoying the views in person. What a delightful garden and thanks for sharing this dream with us.
#6 picture to me seem like a fairy could live there, it was such a fanasy park.
Posted by: Norma Scott | November 20th, 2008 at 11:46 am
As I am typing this it is white outside with the snow and nary a leaf in sight!
These beautiful pictures with all the colours just made my day!
Thanks.
Posted by: Maureen | November 20th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Beautiful colors in the slideshow! Maples provide some of the best fall foliage displays in our own woods, along with sweetgums, wild fruit trees, and dogwoods. There's a winding woodspath on the other side of our "cabin" that leads to a clearing overlooking a tiny pond lined with young pines, cedars, and a few pale sycamores. I've thought about putting a bench or two out there for reading...a perfect spot away from the world.
Posted by: Eliza B. | November 20th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Today I thought of your Mom it has been just a year and I miss her being on your show, her smiling face and her laugh. She would love these photos.
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam from California | November 20th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
I had a dwarf Montmorency cherry tree in my front yard that died of mysterious causes early this past summer. My great neighbor, who owns a landscaping business, felt sorry for me and gave me a wonderful gift of a small, weeping Japanese maple to replace it. I honestly didn't appreciate it because I had my heart set on a flowering tree for that space. Then autumn arrived and this amazing tree put on an incredible show of brillant magenta color. It will give me something to look forward to every fall for a long, long time. I'll plant something else this spring to satisfy my need for late May blooms that I can see from the front porch. Thanks for sharing these phenomenal photos.
Posted by: John Cipollini | November 20th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
What a wonderful story/blog. Oh to have been there in the design. What tree where, why, what went next. The debates and conversations must have been the best. Keep going guys.
Posted by: Vince | November 20th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
When we were stationed in Georgia our little house had the most beautiful Japanese maple growing in the backyard.
We are now currently in Phoenix. Thank you for bringing a beautiful memory to the forefront of my mind.
Posted by: Laura Ingalls Gunn | November 20th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
One day near naked ladies with angel wings, another day, hundreds of photos of fall leaves...amazing spectrum of interests on your blog.
Posted by: lil | November 20th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Wow! Wonderful blog. I like the last pic, its fabulous.
Posted by: cj | November 20th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Oh Martha!!! Such beauty is breathtaking to behold. The Japanese maples are gorgeous. Your friends grove of these most beautiful trees is just spectacular. One lady left a comment saying "fairies could live there". I AGREE!! I love the many different shades of pinks and reds. Glorious. Thank you so much for sharing these fabulous photos. Your friends could put pictures of their Japanese maples in a book.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | November 21st, 2008 at 3:54 am
Martha,
Pix # 28 is me!
Posted by: tinay | November 21st, 2008 at 4:48 am
Hi Martha!
Just lovely fall colors!!! A few of the trees almost look like a dark pink color!
The closest Japanese Garden to me is located in Pasadena at The Huntington...next time you are in Southern California you should see all the lovely gardens they have...Really worth the trip:)
Have a wonderful weekend!
KayEllen
Posted by: kayellen | November 21st, 2008 at 9:38 am
These pictures are absolutely gorgeous. The colors are so vibrant, yet the pictures are so calming. They really are very beautiful.
Posted by: Christine | November 21st, 2008 at 10:00 am
Dear Martha, the pictures of the Japanese maples sure are beautiful. They remind me of the Bluebell and marigold woods in Darlaston England, which used to be such a gorgeous place to sit on a fallen tree trunk and admire the beauty. Sadly, all that is gone now in lew of a housing project. I have a little craft, that was sent to me 60 years ago that I would like to send to you, but I don't know how. Could you take time to show me. I have made this needle case so many times, for gifts to Womans Club, and my meighbors, and I have found it so useful time and again. I don't know whether the friend who sent it to me is still alive, but I don't want the idea to die with me. (I'm 80) I have just signed up for your E Mails, and have already made one of the meals, and plan on making some of the cookies they are a change from the many that I have usually made. Thank you so much for your sharing your many talents.
And isn't it wonderful that at my age I am Computer savvy.
Posted by: Drudge | November 22nd, 2008 at 9:00 am
Guess what Martha. You and I were born on the same day and year. It is fun to know that I was born when such a talented person like you was born. I love your show and your products. Thanks for being born. Paula
Posted by: Paula Uscola | November 23rd, 2008 at 7:26 am