The Seattle Japanese Garden Then & Now | Part II: The Conifers

Culturally and aesthetically significant, conifers are an integral part of the Japanese Garden. They bring a feeling of age and stability and help define areas in the garden that refer to natural landscapes of Japan, such as open woodlands, forested mountains, wooded hills and islands, and wind-swept shores.

Juki Iida included existing native conifers in his landscaping. Some remain, and he selections of conifers since the garden’s first decade have been inspired by Juki’s Iida’s design and vision for the Japanese Garden.

In the Garden, History, Japanese Garden Design, Plants and BloomsChie IidaJune 22, 2021Pine, Japanese Garden, Japanese Pine, Trees, Hinoki, Juki Iida

The Design and Creation of the Seattle Japanese Garden

The story of the Seattle Japanese Garden’s creation is a fascinating one, highlighted by odd twists and turns. As we celebrate the garden’s 60th anniversary, we are taking a moment to reflect on and share our garden’s history.

Garden History, 60th Anniversary, Japanese Garden DesignChie IidaJune 5, 2020History, Juki Iida, kiyoshi inoshita, emily haig

Who was Juki Iida? Working with “Gardeners” Overseas

When Juki Iida considered the challenge of building a garden overseas, he described the American counterparts he anticipated working with as “gardeners”. An article published in the Journal of the Japanese Institute of Landscape Architects solves the challenge of translating this term, and reveals what Iida likely thought of the team he would assemble to build the Japanese garden in Seattle.

History, Japanese Garden DesignMark BourneMay 10, 2017Juki Iida

A Quiet Legacy: The Juki Iida Scroll

Landscape architect Juki Iida left behind a little known legacy when he came to Seattle to oversee the installation of Seattle Japanese Garden: an ink-painted scroll. It provides a glimpse into the natural elements he incorporated into his design.

In the Garden, HistoryCorinne KennedyFebruary 14, 2017Japanese Garden, Juki Iida, History, Seattle, Northwest, Pacific Northwest, Washington, Western Washington, Art, tree, Water, Stone, Maple, pagoda, tea house, Moss

Who Was Juki Iida? ~Insights from the Designer's Diary, Part 1~

Landscape architect Juki Iida is largely credited for designing Seattle Japanese Garden in 1959. Follow a new series by Scholar-in-Residence, Mark Bourne, about the insights Mr. Iida recorded in his diary.

History, Japanese Garden DesignRumi TsuchihashiFebruary 13, 2017Japanese Garden, Juki Iida, History, tour, Garden Design, Architecture, Washington, Western Washington, Northwest, Pacific Northwest, Stone, tree

The Garden Refined: Perfecting the Vision Through Expert Pruning

Fall pruning is the most important part of proper specimen tree maintenance, it is the time when critical decisions will be made with regards to individual pieces and the key relationships that define the aesthetic of this Garden.

In the Garden, FallRumi TsuchihashiNovember 18, 2016Fall, Pruning, Pine, Seattle, Japanese Garden, Western Washington, Washington, Northwest, Pacific Northwest, Maple, tree, Shrub, Juki Iida

The Everything Season

Senior Gardener Pete Putnicki gives us insight into how the garden is cared for in the summer months

In the Garden, Summer, VolunteersRumi TsuchihashiAugust 15, 2016Seattle, Japanese Garden, Washington, Western Washington, summer, Juki Iida, gardening, Pine, Azalea, Fall, Winter, volunteers, Moss, tree, Shrub, Pruning, Stone, Fence

Juki Iida & Richard Yamasaki: Collaborating in Space & Time

The Seattle Japanese Garden was a collaborative work that involved a number of Japanese design team members. It was also, as this article examines, a unique collaboration between lead designer Juki Iida, and Richard Yamasaki, one of the Seattle landscape contractors hired to build it.

In the Garden, Japanese Culture, Japanese Garden DesignRumi TsuchihashiApril 8, 2016Juki Iida, Seattle, Japanese Garden, Garden Design, History, Maple, pagoda, Sculpture, tea house, Moss, tree, Water, Stone, Japanese Pine

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