Hiro looks a bit confused. I'd like to see the final result. How is the project coming along since the pictures were taken?

I used to work for a Japanese landscape company 30 years ago when I first started working in the field. It was a lot of fun even though I was just doing grunt work. I kept my eyes open and learned alot.

BoTann, I've seen the photos from your garden before but I lost the link. I'm so glad now that I found you again. YOU HAVE THE MOST AMAZING GARDEN, the rocks, the MAPLES !!!!, I can't find words to describe everything. Sure you are an expert.Not only your eyes, but your hands done a lot too. How can you keep the garden in that shape? You must have a crew ! I will email to you questions later.

Hiro-san had a difficult task, to create something in a very small area, it is just part of a small backyard. He is very expert, talented. It was a favour, that he gave me his time. The photo was taken in Aug.-2004, more work is needed(much-much more!)It is on a slope, facing North, big trees above, fir, pine, cedar. Very shady. Lots of problem with the clay, drainage. Under the dry rock "river" there is the drainage across the yard. The "waterfall" is under a tall cedar tree, for 15 years I tried different plants to grow there, nothing worked. The main problem is, that this was a very neglected garden, 15 years ago I started to plant rhododendrons and azaleas, I have maybe 100 now and as they grow, I need more room. Started to collect Japanese Maples just this year and I'm going to try from seed some. But I don't have your acres!

I love your interesting stone lantern too.
Thank you for the opportunity to discover you garden and your amazing photos again. I could rave about it for hours!!

Andrea

Herb thanks for posting Andrea's photo's. Andrea it looks like you have a good start on your garden, love to see photo's of your collection of rhododendron and azaleas.

BoTann, I see you have some new photo's, as always I love visiting your garden and am green with envy over your growing conditions in Seattle. I only wish I could have maples like yours. That was one of my favorite things about Seattle, the lush and full Japanese Maples everywhere you looked.

Cheers Jando

As you know, my garden is not Japanese, but uses a lot of the same principles.

I didn't know I had included my 'stone lantern' in the pictures. I looked and looked and finally found it.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/57892440/57895532sJnPYt

It is made from stacking pier blocks, concrete blocks and a few pavers. The top piece is some kind of concrete marker.
It was thrown together more for atmosphere than authenticity and after looking at Herb's fine pictures of lantern placement, I'm going to find a more appropriate location for it. Thank's Herb!

Thanks for the compliments on my garden. It is a labor of love and is always changing. I don't have a crew, and considering the size of the garden, there is not as much maintenace as you might expect. For one thing, I don't water established plants even though our summers are fairly dry.

Yesterday I took a closeup of the 'lantern'.

Here is a link that might be useful: Closup of 'lantern'

Hi

Jando, we have the same taste, my garden never will be "Japanese Garden" , only a garden with some Japanese style, feature. I had very different gardens before,but since we came here, in BC, I loved rhododendrons.I had no plans for the garden, started to work on the very neglected, steep, shady lot with very little money and time. I got approx. 50 rhodos, 6 inches tall, one stem. After 10 years this babies got big, lost half of it, started to move them for better location.Lately I collect spec. colors /yellow, orange/ I'am at the end of the street, next to green belt /with a path/, I am moving plants to the city's land too. There I have a 60 feet long dry rock river, very moist area, since September there is water too, it is raining constantly. On the bank Iris Siberica, beautiful in June for 2 weeks.The dry waterfall is inside in the backyard.

I'm in the progress to learn how to post pictures, I will update my "developing garden"

BoTann, I have a similar lantern too , from concret block, I got the idea from a real JG, the owner is Japanese, his garden is very authentic and still that lantern looks very "at home" in it. The moss helps too.As you said, the principles are important and we put in our personality, taste, efford. I got a kick out of it, how do you use old hibachi. At the spring cleaning I will go around to hunt for same.

Andrea

BoTann -

Congratulations on your imaginative lantern creation. The parts are very nicely proportioned to each other. I think the proportions and the moss make it look quite Japanese.

Herb

I received about 40 Hibachi's from a friend who went dumster diving at the local Value Village. I put them on the deck railing and planted sedums. They never need watering and because they get so dry, they get good color.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/37096181/40864241ZHbQnL

Here's another.
http://community.webshots.com/photo/37096181/47798058CGDZuc

In the shadier areas moss will grow along with the sedums. I call it 'Hibachi Moss'. ;-)