Category Archives: Our Garden

Images taken in our Pennsylvania garden

Another Influence

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“Lantern and Wash Basin”
Portland Japanese Garden

A lantern and wash basin typically greet visitors before they enter a Japanese garden tea house. This one in the Portland Japanese Garden is tucked into a little shaded cove just inside the gate leading to the tea house.

At Heatherwood, we do not have a tea house but are attempting to create a small cozy secluded sitting area to peacefully view the pond, stream, and water fall. In addition to an occasional cup of tea, it is a nice place to have a morning cup of coffee or afternoon glass of wine or other refreshing beverage. At the entrance of the sitting area, we have installed a small Japanese lantern and wash basin to simulate the feeling of Japanese garden tea house.

“Oribe Lantern, Tetsu Bachi Basin, & Kakehi Water Spout”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

As you can see, the vegetation has not grown up around the water feature and it is not covered with moss. We patiently wait for surrounding plants and Japanese maples to grow and create a shady canopy for the wash basin.

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Design Inspiration

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“Lantern On Waterfall Pond”
Portland Japanese Garden

This scene at the Portland Japanese Garden was my initial inspiration for a corner of our pond in Heatherwood’s Japanese influenced garden. Our vignette at Heatherwood is quite a bit different, but contains many of the same elements. We built a rock ledge extending out over our pond and placed a similar type of Japanese lantern overlooking the pond. To the left of the lantern we planted Siberian iris which parallels the irises in the Portland garden. We planted an Akebono cherry tree to the right of the lantern. We have a sitting area behind the lantern with a rock stepping stone path leading up to the pond beside the lantern. We have just purchased a Japanese maple to plant alongside the lantern. Below is our Heatherwood perspective.

“Yukimi Japanese Lantern & Pond”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

We have a long way to go before we have a “finished looking” scene. Each year we enjoy watching the garden evolve as we add new touches.

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A Place to Run and Play

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“The Playfield”
Heatherwood Summer

One of our design criteria for the Heatherwood landscape was to create an area for kids to run and play. Our lower lawn is large enough for a little football or wiffleball field or a full size volleyball court. The areas around the lawn do not include any rocks for kids to bang into. The edges also do not include valuable plants that may be damaged. Lawn paths lead to other areas were kids can run and play tag. The lawn is even relatively flat. And if you stay in the area near the background planting area, Mom or Dad can’t see you from the house! If Mom and Dad want to watch the kids play, there is even a place for them to sit with a nice view of the surrounding country side.

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Heart and Soul

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“Forest Pansy Redbud Leaf”
Heatherwood Woodland

Many times as I walk through our garden, I just let my imagination wander. I am not looking for anything in particular. But when something catches my eye, I stop and explore with my mind and soul. Many times, after pausing for a few moments, I just move on. Sometimes I become captured and just let my mind wander.

I saw this pretty bright new leaf on the tip of a branch. My eyes followed it up along the branch as it led up to the trunk of the tree. The heart seemed to be beating as it softly fluttered in the breeze. I imagined it feeding its blood along the branches to the other leaves and softly back up to the soul of the tree. It is wonderful what imagination can do! Look around, look up to the clouds, and dream. It is a wonderful way to enjoy a moment!

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Shades of Green

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“Along the Garden Path”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Shades of green highlight Heatherwood’s Japanese influenced garden area. Hints of reds and oranges provide a touch of contrast. The garden path meanders through the plantings. A new perspective lies beyond every turn. Every day as I walk through it, I appreciate how thing the various plantings are progressing. I enjoy what is currently in place and imagine how it will be as it matures.

I continuously envision what needs to be removed, changed, and/or added to improve the area. Where do we need additional shade? Do I need to transplant a plant to make room for one that needs more space? Do I need something new to complement an existing plant or fill in a blank space? These are just a few of the questions that I ask as my eyes and mind gaze over the garden. Just yesterday, we removed a dead shrub and transplanted an existing shrub to make room for a new tree and fill in where I removed the dead one. Then we planted a new Japanese maple to anchor the side of the stream and provide a little vertical height to frame the view. Working in the garden is a continuous exercise of enjoying the moment and imagining what can be.

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Showing Off

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“Forest Pansy Redbud Leaves”
Heatherwood Woodland

The early morning sun backlit these Forest Pansy redbud leaves causing them to shout out, “Look at me, look at me!” An early morning walk is always a pleasure. Things just seem to sparkle when the sun first glances over them. The special sunlight is fleeting, I have to be on my toes, time is short. It is time to make the most out of every moment.

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Water Spray

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“Meadow Abstract”
Heatherwood Summer

This looks like we are giving the meadow flowers a bath shower. We are just watering them. Temperatures are getting hot. The forecast is to break 100 degrees next week. We need to make sure everything is well watered by the time the extreme temperatures hit. We hope we have been watering enough to have built up a enough moisture to get the plants through the upcoming scorcher.

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Color, Color, Color, and More Color

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“Color in the Meadow”
Heatherwood Summer

Fourth of July was a beautiful day here in Eastern Washington. After a morning cup of coffee sitting out in the garden, I took off for a stroll with my camera. Everywhere I looked summer color was brightly shining throughout the garden. In this little spot in our meadow we have orange red-hot pokers, purple bee balm, red bee balm, purple salvia, white daisies, yellow yarrow, yellow red-hot pokers, and various shades of green grasses. We peacefully gaze and enjoy the wonderful gift in front of us.

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Sometimes a Different Perspective Is Needed

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“Pink & Yellow Yarrow”
Heatherwood Summer

I have walked by this spot many, many times. What I normally see is a wide angle view of pretty flowers at my feet, green grass and a meadow expanding in front of me, our and our neighbors’ homes, and the distant ridge surrounding the view. By just moving down to ground level, my perspective completely changes to focus on the beautiful jewels right in front of my face.

Life is similar. So many times I look around and see all the confusion and discomforting things that distract me and cause anxiety. When I settle down and become grounded, I can see and feel the many things that are right with our world. Today, I celebrate Independence Day and reflect and cherish all what independence brings to me.

Happy 4th of July!

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