zen and gardens
continuing on from the last post
April and May has one flag – I was in Japan and short on time
the cranes are hanging inside , out of the wind and rain
the harvest basket idea comes from the work of Ayako Miyawaki
today, after a cloudy start the sun made an appearance
and grandson Iain and I went on a garden viewing excursion
he is working on a school project of his choosing
“Zen and Japanese gardens”
we were all a little surprised at his choice – but….
first we visited the Inazo Nitobe Memorial Garden at the Royal Jubilee Hospital
Nitobe was a Japanese statesman who died at the hospital in 1933
the small garden has a water harp chamber – sui-kin-kutsu
but I’m going back to do some research
then it was on to the garden at Robin Hopper’s Pottery
and Hatley Park/ Royal Roads Japanese gardens
(my mother took me here as a child)
now designated a National Historic Site
construction of the Japanese gardens started in 1908
with a tea house on the small island in the man-made lake
and then one last stop at my favorite garden center
to see their tiny water feature
Iain is planning a tsubo niwa or courtyard garden
which traditionally measures 3.3 square metres or the size of two tatami mats
a good day of homework
now it is decision time and some hard work
at home, bravely growing in the sidewalk
How old is Iain? What a great project! I like seeing all the prayer flags in one place–how are the cranes holding up?
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Kerry – Iain was 15 on Sept 1, now in grade 10. Cranes are happy to be in out of the rain.
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