Hinoki: A Revered Conifer

Among the many conifers in our garden is Chamaecyparis obtusa, known in Japan as hinoki. It's one of Japan's most revered trees for its beautiful, durable wood and bark and fragrant essential oils of its bark, wood and foliage.

In the Garden, Plants and BloomsRumi TsuchihashiDecember 16, 2016Hinoki, tree, Cypress, Seattle, Japanese Garden, Japan, Wood, Fragrant, Northwest, Pacific Northwest, Washington, Western Washington, Shinto, traditional, pagoda, gardening, Bonsai

The Essential Reading List for Fall 2016

For your fall enrichment, Corinne Kennedy, one of Seattle Japanese Garden’s most literary garden guides, recently shared with us her favorite Japan-related books to peruse this fall.

FallChie IidaNovember 18, 2016Fall, Literature, Seattle, Japanese Garden, Western Washington, Washington, Northwest, Pacific Northwest, Garden Design, Pond, Stream, Stone, Japan, traditional, Japanese Art, Shinto, Buddhism, Tea

Sasanqua Camellias: Quiet Beauties of the Fall & Winter Garden

In fall and winter, nine “sasanqua” Camellias (Camellia sasanqua) grace our Seattle Japanese Garden with their quiet beauty.

Rumi TsuchihashiNovember 18, 2016Camellia, Fall, Winter, Seattle, Japanese Garden, Shrub, Western Washington, Washington, Northwest, Pacific Northwest, Fragrant, Japan, Azalea, Holly, bloom, Pruning, Tea

In Bloom: ‘Inazuma’ Japanese Maple, The Thunderer

‘Inazuma’ is a beloved maple in our Seattle Japanese Garden — a powerful presence as we walk through the entry gate and leave the everyday world behind.

Chie IidaOctober 18, 2016bloom, Fall, tree, Maple, Seattle, Japanese Garden, Western Washington, Washington, Northwest, Pacific Northwest, Shinto, History, Japan

Beyond Beauty: The Ephemeral Delights of Autumn

“Although the Japanese taste for spring and autumn may at first have been nearly equal, autumn, the season when things perish, possessed an inherently greater allure...

Chie IidaOctober 17, 2016Fall, Leaves, Japan, Seattle, Japanese Garden, Western Washington, Washington, Northwest, Pacific Northwest, Maple, History, Japanese Culture, Ginko, tree, Shrub, Camellia, Fragrant, bloom, Pruning, Berries, haiku

In Bloom: Iris ensata

The Japanese iris now known as Iris ensata (hanashobu in Japan)

In the Garden, Japanese Garden Design, Spring, Summer, Summer, Plants and BloomsRumi TsuchihashiJune 15, 2016Iris, Seattle, Japanese Garden, History, Japan, Flower Arranging, traditional, bloom, Spring, June, Pond, Stream, Water

Japanese Gardens: a Four Season Celebration of Fleeting Beauty

An appreciation for passing beauty is essential to fully experiencing the wonders of a Japanese garden in all four seasons.

In the Garden, Japanese Culture, Japanese Garden Design, Photography, VolunteersRumi TsuchihashiFebruary 12, 2016Spring, Seattle, Japanese Garden, Japan, Japanese Culture, Garden Design, haiku, event, Festival, bloom, tree, Shrub, Cherry, Plum, Peach, Camellia, Azalea, Wisteria, Summer, Iris, Hydrangea, Lotus, Fall, Maple, Ginko, Chrysanthemums, Winter, Pine, Bamboo, Moss

Listening to Stone: Experiencing the Garden Through the Eyes of Sculptor Isamu Noguchi

World renowned sculptor Isamu Noguchi viewed earth as material for art, and sculpture as creation of social space. His concepts have enlivened the author's experience of moving into and through our Japanese stroll garden.

History, In the Garden, Japanese Culture, Japanese Garden DesignRumi TsuchihashiJanuary 14, 2016Seattle, Japanese Garden, Stone, Sculpture, Japan, Japanese Culture

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