Two years ago, I decided to break down concrete block walls of my old house in the suburbs of Tokyo, then I altered the area an open garden. Although it is too small to call a garden, I made a tiny pergola and trellis, putting some unglazed potteries. I named the place "Chikoberry Garden". Chikoberry is a coined word which came from my name Michiko.

North zone is a "Shade Garden" with a combination of Christmas Roses and Huecheras. East side is a "Small Garden" of Japanese white birch, Blueberry, Aohada, Autumnberry (Black chokeberry), Salix Exigua, etc. All the plants are potted except Blueberry.

-- Lovely Black chokeberry
When I first saw it, I felt in love with Black chokeberry ( or Autumnberry ) and I have been in love with. It comes up leaf buds in spring, beautiful green leaves appear and then fine white flowers bloom. In summer, it bears deep red berries and the color changes to violet. I am really impressed by the scene of many berries dangling down from branches here and there. I love to see them in this season. Leaves become deep red in autumn then they falls off at last. My tree is still small but she is a symbol of my house.

-- Fascinated by Christmas Rose
Helleborus Niger, some people call it Christmas Rose, is also very important flower in Chikoberry Garden. I have been getting roots little by little because I was fascinated by the pitiful figure with downcast eyes. I would like to make my shade garden filled with Helleborus Niger in the future.

It was impossible to make up Chikoberry Garden without a help of two person and one book. Ms. Naomi Takahashi, owner of TAKAHASHI PLANTS, and Mr. Yomogida, a pot manager of the shop, I appreciate their kind advises and assistances. The book is "Life in England and Flower Diary" written by Ms. Keiko Shimizu, whose beautiful pictures of Hellebonis Nigels and Snowdrops encouraged me to work up everyday . Though I have been making my garden as my likes, I appreciate those people who gave me a chance to encounter with unknown trees and flowers. Thank you.

My dream in 2003 is to change my garden to White Garden. I want to plant Lace flower and Agrostemma in the east zone and increase roots of Impatience in the north area.

December, 2002
Michiko