Tag Archives: Yukimi Japanese Lantern

Now … The Big Picture

Waterfall and Pond
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

I step back, open my mind, and see the big picture of what was beyond the corner from my 25 May post. The heart of Heatherwood’s Japanese influenced garden presents itself. A stream originating from above flows down the hillside. Two waterfalls plunge into the pond creating a rushing sound. Trees, shrubs, and ground covers frame the stream and pond. Japanese maples add splashes of colors. The Kotoji and Yukimi Japanese lanterns overlook the stream and pond.

I now sit down in a pond-side chair, relax, and just enjoy nature’s surroundings. I contemplate about the many things that are right about our world as I hear the sounds of birds chirping through the rushing water. What a great way to start a spring day!

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The Source

Yukimi and Waterfall
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

From the Oribe and Tetsu Bachi in my last post, I can still hear the rushing water from behind. I turn and discover the source. Our little Yukimi Japanese lantern shaded by a Scolopendrifolium (I call it a ‘Fingerleaf’) Japanese maple overlooking a small waterfall flowing into the pond. The yellow orange spring color of the ‘Fingerleaf’ brightens up a shaded corner.

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New Year Snow

Yukimi in Snow
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

A light snow turns Heatherwood into a winter wonderland. A light one-inch snow provided a garden treat on New Years Day. The snow was wet sticking to leaves and branches, creating several beautiful vignettes through the garden. I had a list of “to do’s” that I had set up to accomplish on New Years. But, I couldn’t pass the opportunity to walk though the garden with my camera. Those “to do’s” will just have to wait.

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More Fall Colors in Heatherwood

Akebono Cherry, Fingerling Japanese Maple, Yukimi & Kotoji Lantern
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

I was sitting in my office doing a little work and looked out the window. The morning light covered the garden outside my window. The heck with work … I grabbed my camera and started playing in the soft light. The color was amazing, I moved from one position to another searching for little vignettes. Three hours later, my creative juices stopped flowing. I had covered less than one-third of the garden. Well, there is always tomorrow morning to do some additional exploring.

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Respite from the Heat

Yukimi and Waterfall
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

During these hot summer days with the temperature in the high 90’s to mid 100’s, Heatherwood’s pond and waterfalls cool things down. The sight and flow of water creates a feeling of coolness even though the temperature is hovering around 100 degrees. This vignette was created while I was sitting comfortably in one of our Adirondack chairs overlooking the pond and waterfalls. I know that one typically does not see an Adirondack chair in a Japanese garden. We have chosen to mix a couple of cultures to provide a comfortable place to relax and enjoy nature.

This sitting area is a works-in-progress. It is shaded from the east and south but is relatively open to the afternoon sun from the west. We have planted Japanese maples, a Japanese pagoda tree, and an akebono cherry on the west to help enclose the seating area. This year we planted a honey locust tree to finish the enclosure. Now we just need to wait until the trees get a little taller to provide a 270 degree protected room with an open view of the waterfall and pond to the north.

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Scolopendrifolium

Fingerleaf Japanese Maple and Yukimi Lantern
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Scolopendrifolium … that is a mouthful! I would just rather call it a ‘Fingerleaf’ Japanese maple. This is one of my favorite little scenes in Heatherwood. It is what we see as we relax in our Adirondack chairs by the pond. It is a great place to have a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, or just sit and enjoy nature and the sound of the falling water.

Tiny leaves are just emerging on the Scolopendrifolium as it starts to reach over the Yukimi lantern. We are training the maple to provide a gentle canopy over the lantern. Just give us 3-4 more years.

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A Morning Gift

‘Yukimi Japanese Lantern’
Heatherwood Summer

I hear falling water and turn a corner. A flash appears beneath the branches of a Purple Ghost Japanese maple. I bend over and take a peek. The early morning sun backlights the falling water, reflects from the pond, and graces the top of the Yukimi lantern. A gift of the coming day.

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Signs of Spring

“Yukimi and Siberian Iris”
Heatherwood Spring

The early spring blooms of the Siberian iris signal that spring is here. This year’s display is much more sparse than previous years. The early hard fall freeze and the late winter snow may have discouraged many of the bulbs from rising above the ground. We will probably need to refresh the area by planting more bulbs this autumn.

The small Japanese maple is forming buds. It will be another 3 to 4 weeks before the leaves burst out. I keep reminding myself, patience, patience, patience!

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Mid-January Stroll

“Yukimi and Pond”
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Between light rain drizzles we had a few hours of sunshine. I grabbed my camera for my first garden excursion of the year. With the rain and above freezing temperatures, our snow is gradually melting. The pond has been free of ice for about a week. During the winter we leave the water flowing in the small stream to provide aeration for our fish. Hopefully they will survive over the winter.

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Well, It is Now Time…

“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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