Trees in a Japanese Garden: an Idealized Vision of Nature

Japanese gardens are inspired by a deep respect for nature, but they’re certainly not “natural.” Instead, they’re works of art that aim to achieve a balance between wildness and control...

History, In the Garden, Japanese Garden Design, PhotographyRumi TsuchihashiMarch 15, 2016Spring, Japanese Garden, Seattle, tree, Maple, Zen, bloom, Fragrant, Stone, Shrub, Cherry, Plum, Moss, Pine, Japanese Pine, Bamboo

Yohaku no bi: The Beauty of Empty Space

White spaces can be profoundly beautiful; full of mystery and promise, a reminder of the infinite potential that dwells within nature--and each of us.

Events, History, In the Garden, Japanese Garden DesignRumi TsuchihashiMarch 15, 2016Seattle, Japanese Garden, Pine, History, Japanese Culture, Art, Buddhism, Zen, Stone, Garden Design, Pond, Space, Class

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

Docents' Picks: Top 11 Books to Read this November

Dokusho no Aki—読書の秋, or “Autumn, The Season for Reading” is a common saying in Japan, and it is a popular time of the year for all kinds of themed reading lists to be published.

Fall, History, In the Garden, Japanese CultureRumi TsuchihashiNovember 5, 2015Fall, Maple, Literature, Seattle, Japanese Garden, Biography, Memoir, Japanese Culture, Novel

In Bloom: Cryptomeria Japonica

Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese Cedar) is a tall, stately, graceful conifer -- and the national tree of Japan.

Fall, History, In the Garden, Japanese Culture, Japanese Garden DesignRumi TsuchihashiNovember 5, 2015Japan, Japanese, Japanese Culture, Japanese Garden

The Healing Power of Japanese Gardens: “Stone Gardens” in the Japanese American Internment Camps

Japanese Americans in forced relocation showed their courage and preserved their cultural heritage through the creation of gardens.

History, In the Garden, Japanese Garden Design, PhotographyRumi TsuchihashiOctober 8, 2015Seattle, Japanese Garden, gardening, History, Japanese Culture, Juki Iida, Japanese Pine

Seven Flowers of Autumn

Seven Flowers of Autumn "aki no nanakusa" has been beloved in Japan for centuries.

Fall, History, In the Garden, Japanese Culture, Japanese Garden Design, Plants and BloomsRumi TsuchihashiSeptember 10, 2015bloom, botanical, Japan, Japanese, Japanese Culture, Japanese Garden, symbolism, volunteers

The Beauty of Moss

Moss is an integral part of most Japanese Gardens. It lends a feeling of antiquity and harmony to the garden; it knits rock to earth and pulls individual plants into unified compositions.

Fall, History, In the Garden, Japanese Culture, Japanese Garden Design, Plants and BloomsRumi TsuchihashiSeptember 10, 2015gardening, haiku, Japan, Japanese, Japanese Garden, symbolism

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