Extend your garden journey by browsing original articles on a variety of related topics.
Japanese irises start blooming in June, coinciding with the time that rice seedlings are planted in Japan. Three species are native to that country—Iris ensata, I. laevigata, and I. sanguinea—and traditionally, many Japanese farmers planted irises near their rice fields and used them as signal plants. Nowadays, Japanese enjoy many wild and cultivated irises throughout the landscape in the late spring.
Read MorePaulownia tomentosa is a fast-growing deciduous tree with showy flowers and a long history in Asian folklore, tradition, and medicine. Its common names include empress tree, princess tree, royal paulownia, and foxglove tree.
Read MoreMay 5th is Children’s Day in Japan. In 1948, it was designated as a national holiday by the Japanese government, and the name was changed from Boy’s Day to make it a day to respect all children's personalities, celebrate their happiness, and thank their mothers. Yes, thanking mothers is part of Japanese national-holiday law!
Read MorePrimula japonica is the best known and easiest to grow of the primrose species known as candelabras. Its charming red or pink mid-spring flowers are a bright spot of color in the Seattle Japanese Garden.
Read MoreThree Prunus mume ‘Kobai’ trees are planted on the eastern edge of the Seattle Japanese Garden’s entry courtyard. Even before the Garden re-opens each year in March, they delight Arboretum visitors with their fragrant, deep pink winter flowers.
Read MoreTraditionally Japanese believe that Toshigami-sama (New Year’s deity) descends in the first month of the year and visits their home and leaves good luck for their coming year. They decorate home with traditional ornaments to welcome Toshigamisama. These are Kadomatsu (門松, New Year’s pine and bamboo decorations), shimekazari (しめ飾り, Sacred straw festoon) and Kagamimochi (鏡餅, Round mirror-shaped rice cakes).
Read MoreCalled 読書の秋 (dokusho no aki) in Japanese, the colder days and longer nights of fall beckon us to read. Blog contributor Corinne Kennedy has compiled an eclectic list of 11 titles recommended by the Garden’s docents (Arboretum Foundation Unit 86).
Read MoreThe Japanese have a custom to make a trip to hills and valleys to appreciate autumn foliage in the fall. This is called “Momijigari”. You may have heard of this term and it is translated to “going leaf-peeping" or “autumn leaves viewing” in English. The direct translation of Momijigari, however, is “Red leaves hunting”.
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