A new member, a new garden and new patience..........

Superimposedhope · Post by **Superimposedhope** » Nov 26, 2007 2:59 pm

First off; Hello to Everyone!
My name is Joe and I work at a Botanical Garden that is planning a sizable Japanese Garden. I have roughly 2 years to prepare for the care of this garden but it's never too early to start learning; right?

Here's a link to give a little more detail about the plans and so on http://www.omahabotanicalgardens.org/Ab ... se_Garden/

I've been a collector of epiphytes for quite some time now. I'm not new to plants but I am new to most all things Japanese; gardens or otherwise. For some reason I have always had a special interest in mosses particularly. So, there's a little something about me. I have lots of reading to do... I would appreciate any and all help, advice, etc.....

Take care,
Joe

George Nesfield · Post by **George Nesfield** » Nov 26, 2007 4:10 pm

Hi Joe,
Welcome to the forum, you have a very enviable task ahead of you it 's gonna be hard but very enjoyable it's the sort of work that people like me could only dream of,so enjoy it.and if I can help you in any way I will be only to pleased, but don't forget to keep us posted on the gardens progress.
George.

gregoryjohn · Post by **gregoryjohn** » Nov 27, 2007 12:19 am

First, welcome Joe.

One of the first things you should do it to start a subscription to Journal of Japanese Gardens. When you subscribe you can also order back issues. I strongly suggest you order every single back issue and read them cover to cover. It's a small journal, only 44 pages each and bi-monthly at that. It is the single best source of hands on information regarding Japanese Gardens today. Sometime controversial but Japanese Gardens bring out passion in people.

Next try to get to as many gardens as possible. If no others, try to get to Anderson Gardens in Rockford, Il (now closed until May) and to the Portland garden in Portland Oregon.

I'm with George, your job is an enviable position.

Here are some links that may help:

http://www.rothteien.com/

http://www.andersongardens.org/

http://www.japanesegarden.com/

Greg

Herb · Post by **Herb** » Nov 27, 2007 9:54 pm

Welcome from me too, Joe. Greg's advice is good - especially his recommendation that you start a subscription to the Journal of Japanese Gardening. It's quite the most useful publication available on the topic.

It was especially interesting to read, on the website that you linked to, that Shinichiro Abe has had a hand in the garden's design. He also designed the Yushien Japanese Garden at Amherst College, which is a quite outstanding example of excellence in Japanese Garden design. There are a few pictures of it at this site -

http://www.amherst.edu/~aahayden/Yushien/Yushien.html

Another two gardens you should make sure to see if you visit the west coast are the Portland Japanese Garden and the Nitobe Memorial Garden in Vancouver, British Columbia. I have a few pictures of the Nitobe Garden in an album at Pbase. I took some of them about 30 years years ago & the garden has been altered a bit since then. -

http://www.pbase.com/mtu_fulani/nitobe_memorial_garden

Bert

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Nov 28, 2007 5:37 am

Hi there Joe
Just to add my welcome to the forum
It looks like you have an exciting time in front of you

Mr. Hanami · Post by **Mr. Hanami** » Nov 28, 2007 7:27 am

Welcome Joe! Congratulations on your new project. I look forward to watching the progress. I know you will enjoy it here, this is a great place to hang out.