Learning from the Garden » Gardening Wisdom

Denver Botanic Gardens

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The Japanese have a long poetic and romantic history with hydrangea (known as ajisai 紫陽花 and gaku ajisai 額紫陽花). Nine species of hydrangea originate in Japan, and what we call “lace-cap hydrangea” is known as gaku ajisai—gaku 額 meaning “a picture frame.” Lovers of water and shade, hydrangea are very adaptable to our environment and bloom in our Garden in July and August. Numerous varieties can be found dispersed as accent plants in strategic locations throughout the Garden.The specimen that overhangs the waterfall at the head of Takao’’s Pond in the Natural Garden is a particular favorite of visitors and photographers.

The presentation of the sake cup and gourd (fukube 瓢) have been planted with a variety of mosses. We will carefully cultivate the most vigorous forms and develop a sense of which moss serves this arrangement best. The site presents certain challenges with the amount of exposure to sunlight and reflective heat generated by the white shira kawa type sand.

Irrigation throughout the Garden has been reassessed and modern, reduced-volume emitter spray heads have been installed.

A diligent fertilization regimen has been initiated to replenish soil nutrient values and microbial activity. For many years, organic material had been removed in order to cultivate moss as a preferred groundcover. This had been depleting the soil of adequate humus for sustaining plant and soil microbe health. A series of soil tests are being performed throughout the Garden to determine specific needs in each area according to the species of plants under cultivation. Soil amendments such as compost, compost tea, enriched soil, and green sand have been added to rebuild the soil. Applications of organic compounds have been incorporated to stimulate root development, vigor, and stronger immune responses in the plants. These slow-release, natural compounds will have long-lasting affects in improving overall plant and soil health.

In keeping with established procedures to reduce our impact on the environment, the Gardens and Grounds Division of the Portland Japanese Garden continue to develop sustainable practices and methods of maintenance to promote a philosophy of awareness.

Recycling and composting have long been established practices here. All of our organic debris is delivered to the Washington Park Maintenance Facility where it is composted and made available for reuse in Washington Park and the Garden. Our janitorial supplies and facilities maintenance materials are selected for eco-awareness and “green-friendly” aspects. The Garden has also been reducing energy usage and costs by converting all interior and exterior lighting to energy efficient forms.

To cut down on noise and air pollution, we have evaluated the equipment used in the Garden, including blowers, mowers, and other small engines. Where low-emission and noise-reduction models are available we have purchased them as replacements. The turf areas in the Garden and parking lot area are being converted to low-maintenance grass types and are undergoing renovation to improve drainage and reduce irrigation needs. We plan to replace the gas-powered mowers with push-reel mowers this spring.

To be continued in May…

After much deliberation and consultation with field experts, Garden Advisor Toru Tanaka, and the Garden Resource Committee, it has been determined that the willow on the Upper Pond of the Strolling Garden must be replaced. Unfortunately, time, disease, and insects have taken their toll. The existing willow will be removed in early February. This beloved tree has beautifully framed the view of the Upper Pond and Moon Bridge for many years, and it will be greatly missed. We are currently working with local growers to secure an appropriate specimen of Salix babylonica (weeping willow), which will be transplanted in February. A generous donation in memory of Linda Fromm from the Fromm family will help to replace the willow.

“Fallen cherry blossoms floating on the surface of a pond … suggests the concept of the fleeting nature of life itself.”

CCC photo

Excerpted from Blueprints magazine, a publication of the National Building Museum

…We asked landscape architect, Sadafumi Uchiyama, who designed [Blossoms in a River of Sand], to talk with us about Japanese gardens in the world today.

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Hatley Park, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, is a 565-acre Edwardian estate surrounded by preserved old growth forest. It is distinguished as “the largest historic site in Canada”. Built early in the 20th century for coal baron James Dunsmuir, the regal estate became a military training college in 1940 and later home to Royal Roads University in 1995. Today the grounds are open to both recreationists and the students of the university under a vision of sustainable tourism: Among Hatley Park’s goals are involvement of the local community, limiting the environmental footprint of tourism, protecting natural and cultural heritage resources, and sharing these practices globally to advance the benefits of tourism.

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As you know, gardens continually evolve and change. Plants grow, get pruned and shaped, and sometimes they are removed and replaced. We strive to stay close to the intended design and landscape effects of our Garden, while also working to keep your eyes pleased. Sometimes this requires small changes. Currently, we are in the process of transforming some areas of the lawn. This includes reshaping and replacing the grass with either dwarf mondo grass or moss.

For example, the lawn you see to your right at the Garden’s entrance has been modified from a rectangular shape into a form with flowing rounded edges using transplanted moss and grass. On the right side of the island in the Sapporo Lantern area we have planted dwarf mondo grass. We will be installing a border of mondo grass on the other side of the island shape as well.

Mondo grass is a popular plant in Japanese gardens. Botanically it isn’t a grass at all, but belongs to the lily family and is related to Liriope spicata. As a slow but nicely spreading groundcover, it has the benefit of tolerating a wide range of growing conditions including shade (most lawn grass varieties struggle with this) and full sun. It also produces delicate little flowers and berries.

Entering the garden to the island shrine.

Tatton Park

Tatton Park is a thousand-acre estate in the north of England, home of the Egerton family since 1791. In the days of Britain’s global influence, the Egertons were quite cosmopolitan, once playing host to the Shah of Persia and the Crown Prince of Siam. Fittingly their gardens are host to a timely cultural exchange as well.

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