Give me your best shot.

IBOY · Post by **IBOY** » Jun 08, 2005 2:22 pm

I just got back from St. Louis, and while there toured the Missouri Botanical Garden, including the Japanese garden. Now, I love Japanese maples, and it was a sobering experience seeing how those cute little maples I've been sticking in the woods right in back of the rhodys are going to get as big as a garage. But, while wandering about, I suddenly realized I don't really like Japanese gardens. Or, let's say I wouldn't want to HAVE one. You see, I like change, and surprise, with new things to see every day, and it seems to me the goal of a JG is to look exactly the same all the time, through tremendous expenditures of time and effort; to deny the passage of time and season almost. Right... Wrong?? Maybe living in a climate with such dramatic (violent) changes in season colors my thinking. A gentler climate like Japan (or Ireland) might change my opinion. But still, when I'm walking about my garden, I'm always occupied in seeing what's new... what do you think about when you're walking about a JG? I don't mean to get too overwrought about this, but JG's are too open, too empty, too exposed, too static. It's sort of like walking around one of those Hopper paintings of the empty streets. Well, anyway, after my tour I needed a cold beer and a brat on the riverfront... maybe it was just the hot weather.
Don

George Nesfield · Post by **George Nesfield** » Jun 08, 2005 3:20 pm

Hi,
What ever turns you on.
George.

Old earth dog · Post by **Old earth dog** » Jun 08, 2005 4:14 pm

With all those beautiful shots of George's gardens, how can ANYONE not love a JG!!!
As a resident of St. Louis, I can tell you there is always change going on in the JG at the Botanical Garden's.
I don't have the skills, definately not the patients for one, but, dern sure would If I had the time and space.
Take a good look at sites like Georges, Sam's, etc on this forum. Azealas, Rhodys, paeonies, Iris, hosta, etc. As far a change goes, there's nothing as beautiful as a JG after a light snow cover.

J maples are very slow growing. I doubt you'll have to many "garages" in your woods soon.

IBOY · Post by **IBOY** » Jun 08, 2005 5:00 pm

Well, maybe it's just the Shaw Japanese Garden that I don't want, and that I don't want it here in the midwest when it's 90 degrees and sweltering. Public gardens tend, by nature to be more open, with wider paths, and expanses of grass, and maybe that just stretched all the intimacy out of what I was seeing, but after lugging all the way around the JG, I headed for the woodland garden, with its babbling brook. I grant you, George's pictures are stunning... now if I lived in the UK, where it's cool and green all the time, and I had George take care of it for me...
Anyway, maybe it was just the heat; I felt better after repairing to the Misissippi waterfront for a cold beer. Here, maybe, is an example of what I'm talking about: I took pictures only of the best parts of the park, yet this raked rock thingy just doesn't connect with me... it just sits there. I admit, people have gotten lost in my garden, and that's an aquired taste.
Don

Old earth dog · Post by **Old earth dog** » Jun 09, 2005 1:15 am

Shaw's JG is typically American "Bigger is better". I think the rock areas are probably a little to Zen for me, but I've learned to enjoy the shape and textures. Now ya can't say you wouldn't like a nice little teahouse on an island like they have, could ya! Also a couple of great waterfalls. Not to mention some fantastic duck hunting on the lake..........

Did I say that with my outloud voice?

Cytania · Post by **Cytania** » Jun 09, 2005 11:07 am

You're perfectly entitled to express a preference IBOY. IMHO few Japanese gardens are perfectly unchanging but the changes are understated, you are being asked to become more sensitive to the garden and notice just one plant at it's prime. It's like comparing a chorus line in a Broadway spectacular with one ballerina picked out in spotlight on an empty stage.

Personally I can appreciate both Western and Eastern gardens I was born into the English style, full of blowsy excess and huge summer displays. Japanese gardens require you to breath out and open your mind to subtler charms. The way a fern lies over a rock, the way a maple leaf sits amidst a field of moss. One day it may all just 'click' for you.

IBOY · Post by **IBOY** » Jun 09, 2005 12:49 pm

You may have a point C.; now that you mention it "sensitive" is not a term I recall being used a whole lot around me. As to blowsy, is this what you mean:

Old earth dog · Post by **Old earth dog** » Jun 10, 2005 12:52 am

You've got the beginnings of a great JG there.

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Jun 10, 2005 4:44 am

Looks good to me

IBOY · Post by **IBOY** » Jun 10, 2005 12:38 pm

You're far too nice; I thought somebody would comment on the "unusual" combination of magenta pink azalea and chartreuse arbor vitae. I put the final touch on this corner by draping a shocking pink rose over the chartreuse arbor vitae, and planting a nice bright blue hydrangea on the other side; goes rather well with the dark red Japanese maple, don't you think? In my garden you don't contemplate subtlety... hard to do when you're wearing dark glasses.
Don

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Jun 10, 2005 12:56 pm

Don .... if you are trying to be contraversial, I have to tell you that I gave up contraversiality a few years ago after an episode on Garden Web
Everybody has their own opinions of things, and are entitled to hold their own views
I think Georges Garden, for example, is simply terrific, but it is not the sort of garden which would satisfy me
I am striving for something totally different, but still in line with Japanese traditions, in so far as I am capable
You should do your own thing and enjoy it

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Jun 10, 2005 8:24 pm

Interesting conversation

Although I too would not have the patience and resolve to tend the beautiful gardens posted on this forum, I certainly can appreciate the calming affect they have on me when I view them, and would love to one day spend time in a few.

Appreciation of beauty after all is in the eye of the beholder. Now if I could my gardens during the summers and the JG's for winter and fall, I'd be totally at peace!

I love as OED stated, the winter gardens they produce. Although..........I do totally love to view them in all seasons when the owners share their beauty with us

They are all gorgeous through my eyes

IBOY · Post by **IBOY** » Jun 10, 2005 8:46 pm

Amen...

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Jun 11, 2005 6:56 am

My own favourite times in the Japanese Garden are spring and autumn. I have just finished a DVD which incorporates a four minute film of each of these four seasons, showing how my own garden dramatically changes during those periods. It is fascinating to see that happen. Whilst there are very few flowers (as such) in a Japanese Garden, there is still masses of colour from the leaves of the Maples and, of course, from those flowers on shrubs like rhoddies, or azaleas, or on the Water lilies, Irises etc
My own garden is about 3/4 acre. To walk around it and take in what you see, would take approximately an hour. You could take longer if you dwell a little on certain aspects. That makes it the most serene and peaceful of places to take a stroll, and that is exactly the type of atmosphere I am looking for. Maybe, just maybe, before I die, I will succeed????

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Jun 11, 2005 7:12 am

Watched a few, the garden walk and sunrise to sunset.......and can't remember the name of the other...... Very nice. Thanks........

FishyFishy · Post by **FishyFishy** » Jun 28, 2005 3:02 am

A gentler climate like Japan

hehe

It's sweltering heat in the summer extremely cold in the winter and theres the rainy season, typhoon etc.

constant seasonal change

sorry

hostaaddict · Post by **hostaaddict** » Jun 28, 2005 11:21 am

I love the JG look, as is so beautiful and peaceful. I like the more intimate type though. I think Sams and George's gardens are phenomenal! However, I don't have the amt of land or the stamina to care for a JG. The fellows would be aghast at me, but I have put Japanese lanterns, gates, etc among my unruly hostas, etc. Like you say, it is a matter of personal taste. I look at everyone's JGs and DROOL, but there is no way I could physically do it all, so I enjoy my little JG touches wherever I can. I have three Japanese fountains and seven lanterns and small pond with water hammer in my gardens. Non traditional I know, but I love it that way! We built a Jpanese type bell tower and hung big bell in it. It too, is not authentic Japanese style I'm sure, but everyone who sees it loves it. To each his own! I enjoy everyone's pics of their lovely JGs so I get my kicks that way!

We do have extreme temps here. Lately has been in the 90s and the humidity almost unbearable. I don't even work in the garden when it is this way.

........Jackie

FishyFishy · Post by **FishyFishy** » Jun 28, 2005 12:29 pm

HostaAddict - Hostas are natives to Japan, http://homepage3.nifty.com/plantsandjapan/page025.html

so maybe you can consider it as your japanese hosta garden

hostaaddict · Post by **hostaaddict** » Jun 28, 2005 3:57 pm

Yeah, I know.

Take that first picture and set a little stone lantern in the middle of it and it will look like my place.

I just meant that my garden is more of an "Oriental wilderness" and now, after seeing that first pic, I guess there is such a thing. I love the beautifully pruned and trained gardens, but i just can't do it anymore. Thanks for that site.....Jackie

putnamgardens · Post by **putnamgardens** » Jul 24, 2005 9:59 pm

I wouldn't say it's my best shot but it's a asian shot. Later, Love, Lisa