Tag Archives: waterfall

The Bridge

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‘Bridge Over Waterfall’
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Looking back four years ago when we constructed the stream, I recall the effort it took to place this rock over the stream. I took an experienced excavator operator and three men to finagle this huge rock in place over the stream bed. It consumed the good part of an afternoon to place smaller rocks as its base and meticulously position the bridge. It was worth it!

Since then, we have been planting trees, shrubs, and ground covers to soften the edge of the stream. After four years, plants are growing over the rocks down to the flowing water. We frequently sit and have our morning coffee here and enjoy the maturing scenery and listen to the flowing water and the birds sing. It is a great way to start the day!

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Well, It is Now Time…

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“Kotoji & Waterfall Ice”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

A couple more days with sub-freezing temperatures and the waterfall is freezing over. It is now time to turn the stream off before the water overflows the stream bed. It is an indicator for the garden to take its winter nap. It will be about 3 to 3 1/2 months before we start our spring clean-up and turn the water back on. Now is the time to rest and plan for the upcoming year. Weather permitting, we will continue our strolls through the garden, enjoying the winter garden color and contrasts.

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It’s Almost Time

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“Kotoji and Stream”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

We are entering the last month of autumn. Temperatures have dropped down into the teens at night. We have already had our first dusting of snow and are expecting a little flurry today. It’s almost time to turn the main waterfall off for the season. Every time I walk by our pond and waterfall this time of year, I say to myself that I should turn off the water. Then I think, one more week.

I love to gaze at our waterfall and listen to the sound of the water falling into the pond. I have a difficult time shutting the main stream down for the winter. We do keep our side stream going to help aerate the pond and keep it oxygenated for the fish. At least we have a little flow action and noise over the next 3-4 months. We turn the water back on when we start our spring clean-up in March.

So maybe, I will turn the waterfall off today … or not.

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Time to Shut Off the Waterfall???

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“Japanese Garden Waterfall Hillside”
Heatherwood Autumn

This week Heatherwood seems to be at its peak in color. The temperatures are dropping below freezing at night. Leaves are rapidly falling. Small patches of ice have formed at the edges of the waterfall. Is it time to turn off the water to the main falls and prepare the pond for winter?

Nah, I think I can wait a few more days until all the leaves have dropped. It is still just too beautiful to turn off.

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Crisp Autumn Morning

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“Pond & Waterfall”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Our “Indian Summer” ended yesterday. We received our first rain since May and the temperature dropped 20 degrees. But we still had a beautiful crisp autumn morning today. We had nice patches of clouds that made the sky interesting while still letting in the beautiful sun rays to brighten the landscape.

Now that the temperatures have fallen and approach freezing at night, we should start to see the colors change more rapidly. I will have to be on my toes every morning and try to create images that reflect the rapid change in color.

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Rushing Water

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“Upper Waterfall”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

The last several posts have been focused on the Portland Japanese Garden. Now it is time to come back to our Heatherwood garden.

The rushing water creates a soft rumbling roar in our Japanese garden. At times when I am alone, I sometimes sit by the waterfall, close my eyes and focus on the sound of the rushing water. The busy surrounding world seems to fade away. I sit and think about the more simple things in life.

The soft rumbling water
clears my mind.
Life’s simple things appear.

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Finding His Place

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“Old Fogey In Early Morning Sun”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Our “Old Fogey” pine was planted earlier this spring to frame the top part of the waterfall. His head and arms are reaching toward the falling water. They seem to be stretching out for the sun’s gentle early morning rays. We patiently will give him time to find his place in the garden.

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The Japanese Maples Are Showing Off Their Spring Color

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“Japanese Maple and Waterfall”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

This morning’s garden stroll was focused on little vignettes of Japanese maples in our Japanese garden. This is one that I frequently turn to. This maple stands alongside our smaller waterfall. Its shape and green dissectum leaves provide a calm contrast to the rushing water.

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Early Morning Light

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“Yukimi and Waterfall”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Early morning light reflecting off the falling water and pond stopped me dead in my tracks during a stroll through our garden. My mind wanders. I notice how the little Yukimi watches over the fish in the pond and gazes at the sparkling waterfall as in turn the Akebono Cherry gently watches over the lantern.

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Up to the “Perch”

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“Stepping Stones Up to the Perch”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

On this day I decided to take the back path up to the “Perch.” From the entrance of the stone steps, I can see the Adirondack chair and the small mountain lantern. I can hear the sound of a rushing stream, but cannot see anything. A surprise waits at the top.

My mission for this day’s photo excursion was to record a baseline for the state of the Japanese garden before we start our spring planting project. I want to have before and after perspectives of the different vignettes in the garden. Our objective for this area will be to encase the area around the path with various ground covers and maybe a couple of deciduous shrubs.

Since this post talks about the path up to the “Perch”, I decided to change the overall web site header to the surprise at the top of the steps.

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