Goodbye for Now! Winter Closure in 2020

On November 15th, 2020, the Seattle Japanese Garden will close for the season. With winter chill already in the air, we reflect on why the garden closes each year from December through February.

In the GardenChie IidaNovember 12, 2020winter

The Essential Reading List for 2020

Called 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 12 titles she recommends.

Japanese CultureCorinne KennedyNovember 10, 2020Autumn, Fall, books, Japanese Culture

'Samidare' Japanese Maple Has Beautiful Fall Leaves, Colored Like Stained Glass

Acer palmatum ‘Samidare’ is a Japanese maple notable for its uniquely beautiful fall color. Green-leaved in summer, it comes alive in autumn, with striking foliage variations of patterning and color – intricate blends of gold, crimson and purple.

Fall, Garden History, In the Garden, Plants and BloomsCorinne KennedyOctober 14, 2020Maple, Fall Color, Trees

Planting a Hiroshima peace tree

On October 5th, 2020, a small Ginkgo biloba sapling was planted just outside the Seattle Japanese Garden. This very special tree was gifted to us by Green Legacy Hiroshima. Representatives of Japan and Seattle attended a very small ceremony to welcome the sapling into our garden.

60th Anniversary, Events, Garden History, Plants and BloomsChie IidaOctober 8, 2020Gingko, peace tree

Kaleidoscope Series 2: Maple Pruning with Pete Putnicki

Second in the Kaleidoscope series is "Maple Pruning With Pete Putnicki". In this webinar, our senior gardener, Pete Putnicki demonstrates how pruning is done on the signature weeping maple. He talks about Japanese garden aesthetics and gives some tips on maple pruning.

Kaleidoscope Series: "World of Butoh" with Kogut Butoh

The first in our Kaleidscope series of virtual events, we are excited to present “World of Butoh with Kogut Butoh”! Learn about this modern Japanese performance art from Joan Laage, an incredible performer and SJG volunteer. This was originally presented as a webinar with a live Q&A.

From Home, Events, Japanese Culture, Visual ArtChie IidaOctober 6, 2020Kaleidoscope, butoh

Thujopsis dolabrata: An Uncommon Conifer with Bold, Shiny Green Foliage, Silvery-white Underneath

The thick, overlapping scales of hiba arborvitae foliage resemble the scales of a lizard, and lizard tree is another one of its common names.

In the Garden, Plants and BloomsCorinne KennedySeptember 23, 2020Japanese Garden, Trees

Tomeishi: The Stopping Stone

No, “stopping stone” isn't a typo! A tomeishi, which translates literally into "stop stone", is a subtle guide used to keep visitors on the correct path. This unique feature of Japanese tea gardens is temporarily in use in our garden to help guide visitors through our one-way paths.