Friday, December 18, 2020

Japanese Gardens for Renewal and Healing

 This wonderful link came via the NAJGA (North American Japanese Garden Association) e-Newsletter.


Reflections from the Japanese Garden Community

Contributions from:
Sadafumi Uchiyama, Kendal Brown, Ayse Pogue,
David Rettig, Tim Gruner, Thom Gerst, Phil Pochoda,
Michael Rabkin, Daniel Hirshberg & Kathryn Heislup

Sunday, December 6, 2020

2020 Foreign Minister's Commendation

The Seattle Japanese Garden as been awarded the 2020 Foreign Minister's Commendation from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  This commendation is awarded “to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields, in order to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries and areas.”

Read more:  2020 Foreign Minister's Commendation — Seattle Japanese Garden

Photo by Aurora Santiago

Friday, October 30, 2020

Kaleidoscope Series 04 - Ikebana

The 4th in the Kaleidoscope Series will explore the art of ikebana flower arrangement with Ikebana International Seattle and instructor Phyllis Danielson, an instructor at the Ohara School founded in 1912.

Friday, November 13, 2020
6:00 - 6:45pm

 

Friday, October 9, 2020

Ginkgo Biloba Planting Ceremony - October 5, 2020

A small group of dignitaries and garden supporters gathered outside the garden to officially present and plant the Ginkgo biloba seedling, a gift from Green Legacy Hiroshima with a message of  Peace and Hope.  Mayor Jenny Durkin, Consul General Hisao Inagaki and his wife, Parks Superintendent Jesús Aguirre and the Arboretum's Jane Stonecipher presented remarks and placed a shovel of dirt onto the tree roots.  Our own Susan Ott Ralph told the story of the tree, grown from a seed of a tree that survived the 1945 atomic bomb in Hiroshima.  Cara Izumi read a message from Green Legacy Hiroshima.  After the ceremonies, Jeanne Peterson led the Consul General and his party on a tour of the garden.  Marcia Takamura provided koto music.

To see photos and read more about the ceremony, go to the "Special Events" page of this blog.  NOTE from 10/10/2020 - More Photos have been added to this page - enjoy!

To watch a video of the ceremony, click on this link from the Seattle Japanese Garden website:

www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/blog/2020/10/8/planting-a-hiroshima-peace-tree

Video Intro Screen

Plan to go to the garden soon to see the new tree and also watch the colors of the garden turn to fall.

Ginkgo Sapling outside Garden

Sunday, September 6, 2020

Kaleidoscope Series - Oct. 1 - "Maple Pruning" / Oct. 14 - "Art of Sumi"

Kaleidoscope Series 03 - "Art of Sumi" with Midori Kono Thiel

  The third in the Kaleidoscope series of free virtual events will introduce you to the art and basic techniques used in the traditional Japanese calligraphy and sumi-e.

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020
6:00 to 6:45pm


Kaleidoscope Series 02 - "Maple Pruning" with Pete Putnicki

  The second in the Kaleidoscope series of free virtual events will feature Pete Putnicki demonstrating the art of pruning Japanese Maples.

“Our intention is for the trees here to be a harmonious contribution
to the over-all picture and narrative of the Garden.” - Pete Putnicki

Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020
6:00 to 6:45pm


Kaleidoscope Series 01 - "The World of Butoh" with Joan Laage

  The first in the Kaleidoscope series of free virtual events will feature the world of Butoh with Joan Laage of Kogut Butoh with special footage of dancers recently recorded in the garden.

Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020
6:00 to 6:45pm
Click here to see more information.
(scroll down to Register)

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Remembering Moon Viewing 2018

 As the 2020 full moon begins to fade, we remember Moon Viewing Festivals from years gone by, since alas it was not to be this year.




(photos by Peggy Garber)

Saturday, August 1, 2020

Unit 86 sponsors Seeing | Seeds | Stories Exhibit

As part of the 60th Anniversary celebration of the Seattle Japanese Garden, the Docents of Unit 86 are sponsoring the SEEING | SEEDS | STORIES exhibit, originally to have been on display at Miller Library at the University of Washington Center for Urban Horticulture, but now available virtually on the Seattle Japanese Garden web site.  The exhibit features 5 artists who portray the garden with their narrative of space, expressing through their individual mediums the unseen moments that make a visit to the garden special.  Click on the link below for more information.


Arboretum Summer Bulletin features the Japanese Garden

In honor of its 60th Anniversay, the Seattle Japanese Garden and its history is the focus of the Washington Park Arboretum's Summer 2020 Bulletin.

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Poetry and the Japanese Garden by NAJGA

If you are quick you can still register for NAJGA's Virtual Lecture: "Poetry and the Japanese Garden."
Tomorrow, July 23rd, 2020
4:30 to 6:pm PDT
*SuihoEn, Van Nuys, California (Photo by Roman Rodriguez)

NAJGA is honored to host this lecture by Dr. Seiko Goto, Professor at the School of Environmental Science at Nagasaki University.
 To register click here 

We'll begin the evening with a virtual cocktail hour from 4:30pm-5:00pm. Come and introduce yourself and get to know others in the Japanese garden community. The lecture will begin at 5:00pm PDT. Then, we'll end with a Q & A with Dr. Goto. 

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Seattle Japanese Garden to Reopen July 14th

Wonderful News!
The Garden to Reopen Tuesday July 14th
with some restrictions.
  • Timed Entry Appointments - sign up at Seattle Parks & Rec .
  • Groups of related people no larger than 5.
  • Wear Face Masks and social distance.
  • Follow one direction paths within the garden.
At the top of this web page you can either "Sign In" if you already have an account or "Create an Account."

To create an account at Seattle Parks and Rec.

Step 1: Click on the 'Create New Account' button.

Step 3: Complete your information and Submit.

Step 4: You will receive an "Activate Your Account" email from Seattle Parks.  Click the link in that email to activate your account.

Once you have a Parks Activnet Account, then you can got to this Seattle Parks link to sign up for a Garden Timed Entry Ticket.   https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/seattle/daycare/program/312?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true&online=true  and click on the "Enroll Now" button to pick your day and time and process your order.

For more information on the rules and a map of the directional garden paths, go to this Seattle Japanese Garden Website:  https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/covid19 .  There is also a button on that page to "Purchase Your  Ticket."  There may appear to be an entry charge, but for Unit 86 Members, that charge will be discounted to $0.

Sign up now and ENJOY - at LAST!



Friday, July 3, 2020

Virtual Tanabata - Starting July 11

The annual Japanese star festival of Tanabata will be a virtual event this year due to Covid-19.

From noon on Saturday, July 11 to midnight Friday, July 31st, follow this link to see videos, stories and drawing projects for kids posted on the Seattle Japanese Garden web site:


IN ADDITION - The Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle is launching a public art campaign to support artistic expression and cultural exchange during these challenging times. The Consulate is specifically seeking art submissions from the public that reflect US-Japan relations and themes of friendship and hope between the two countries.

Once a week we will select artwork submitted from people living in the Consulate’s jurisdiction
and post it on our Facebook page. To promote the project, we ask that you use the
hashtag #cgjartseattle on your Facebook posts. We also encourage you to post your own
submissions with the hashtag and share the selected photos after they are posted.

For more information:  Click Here
Consulate-General of Japan
701 Pike Street, Suite 1000
Seattle, Washington 98101

Saturday, June 27, 2020

Jeanne Peterson, Chair of Seattle Japanese Garden Steering Committee



At the June 17, 2020 Arboretum Foundation virtual Annual Meeting, Skip Vonckx retired as Chair of the Japanese Garden Steering committee and from the Foundation Board.  Assuming the Chair position in his stead is our very own Jeanne Peterson, long time Board Member of the Foundation, member of the Steering Committee and a Unit 86 Guide since 2010.

Congratulations Jeanne.  We in Unit 86 looking forward to working closely with you during the next term.

Read an interview of Jeanne by David Yamaguchi of The North American Post:  https://napost.com/jeanne-peterson-the-seattle-japanese-garden-steering-committee-chair/

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

A Legacy of Peace, Planted in Our Garden

The Seattle Japanese Garden web site honors the history of the garden with this beautiful story of collaboration between Japan and Seattle to honor the 60th Anniversary.  Susan Ott-Ralph has been working with the Green Legacy Hiroshima Initiative to bring "peace trees" into our garden.

In January, 2020, Susan delivered these seed to be propagated.  They are all from plants that survived the atomic bombing in Hiroshima.  By growing these seeds we commemorate the lives lost in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and become an ambassador for the initiative's message of peace and love of the natural world.

See the story on the Seattle Japanese Garden web site at:
https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/blog/a-legacy-of-peace


Friday, June 5, 2020

60th Anniversary of the Seattle Japanese Garden

Sixty years ago today, June 5 1960, the Seattle Japanese Garden celebrated its Grand Opening with many dignitaries present: Honorable Gordon Clinton, Mayor of Seattle; Honorable Yoshiharu Takeno, Consul-General of Japan, Seattle; Dr. Charles Odegaard, President, University of Washington; Gordon Marckworth, President of the University of Washington Arboretum; Juki Iida, Supervising Director of Construction and Design, Japanese Tea Garden, Seattle; and special guest: Avery Peterson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Far Eastern Economic Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

Read the Story behind the creation of the garden on the garden website, written by Jessa Gardner with much help from Julie Coryell and Shizue Prochaska at:



Monday, June 1, 2020

Pruning with Pete Putnicki

May 29, 2020 - From the SJG web site at https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/ -
We hope you enjoy this video of Senior Gardener Pete Putnicki
sharing his pine-pruning experience!

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Stroll through the Seattle Japanese Garden with Pete Putnicki

The Seattle Japanese Garden.org web site has posted a lovely video: "Stroll through the Seattle Japanese Garden" with Pete Putnicki.  Follow the link below...

https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/ and scroll down to this photo.

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Online Ukiyo-e exhibition

Davidson Gallery has a nice online exhibition of Japanese Ukiyo-e prints.  Literally translated, Ukiyo means "Floating World" and -e refers to pictures.  You can find this at  https://www.davidsongalleries.com/exhibitions/japanese-ukioy-e/

from Jeanne Peterson, Continuing Education Chair

Thursday, April 23, 2020

National Volunteer Week


In recognition of National Volunteer Week, I wanted to add my personal THANK YOU for all do you on behalf of the Garden. See below for today's post in recognition of all the ways that wonderful volunteers bring the Garden to life.

Nice to see all these photos, and look forward to the time when these activities, or some re-imagined version of them, can occur once again!

Jane Stonecipher
Executive Director
Arboretum Foundation


Thursday, April 16, 2020

Japanese Pruning Workshop


Japanese Pruning Workshop
with Masa Mizuno
LIVE-STREAM
SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2020
10am - 12pm  (pacific time)

Presented by



Those who have participated in previous Masa workshops, know what an amazing opportunity this is to learn from one of the living masters of Japanese horticulture.  
NWLA is pleased to offer this special Live-Stream event, that also allow many who live across the country and even the world, to participate.  During this live-stream event, you will be taking a virtual tour of Heron's Rook Gardens on Whidbey Island, and watching close-up as Masa and his assistant Sam Hendrix share their perspectives, select specimens to transform, discuss philosophy, design and application.

Advanced reservation is required 
You can purchase your virtual ticket HERE  and NWLA will email detailed instructions on how to log in to the LIVE STREAM.

Masa and Sam donate their time for this workshop to raise funds for NWLACC's Global Cultures Educational Program for K - 12 public school students, helping to graduate culturally ready 21st Century leaders.  

Find out more about this key educational program Global Cultures Experience Programs

Forwarded by Nat Suyenaga on 4/16/2020

from Northwest Language and Cultural Center, 1804 Scott Road, Suite 104, Freeland, WA 98249

Friday, March 27, 2020

Haiku and photos from Seattle Japanese Garden Facebook


From the March 27th Facebook Page of the Seattle Japanese Garden, with permission to share here from the Arboretum Foundation.  Find more of these posts on the Haiku page of this blog.  You can scroll down the the very first one issued March 13, 2020, the last day the garden was open.  We will add new posts as they appear from Facebook.   Imagine for a few moments that you are walking in our beautiful garden.   Enjoy . . .


Thursday, March 26, 2020

Seattle Japanese Garden Closed due to Covid-19

UPDATE - The Seattle Japanese Garden is now closed through May 4, following Governor Inslee's directive.

Seattle Japanese Garden is closed from March 14 through at least April 13, 2020, following the guidance of the Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation and the King County's Public Health Department recommendations regarding Covid 19.


Seattle Japanese Garden Gatehouse on its opening day 4/20/2009.  Photo by Peggy Garber

Visitors may be shut away from this beautiful and tranquil garden during these trying times, but the members of the Prentice Bloedel Japanese Garden Arboretum Unit 86 / Seattle Japanese Garden Docents are working behind the scenes to be prepared for the day when the garden will again open its gates to all and we can resume leading tours and the many other activities that make this garden such a treasured resource for all Seattle, especially during this, our 60th Anniversary year.

Although this blog has been dormant for many months, we would like to reactivate it now, as a means of communication for all the Unit’s members as well as for all the others who love and support the Seattle Japanese Garden and may still be following this blog.

With permission of the Arboretum Foundation, we will share the daily Haiku posts that appear on the Seattle Japanese Garden Facebook pages for those of you who do not have a Facebook account to enjoy thinking about the garden every day while we isolate ourselves to prevent spread of the virus.  Look for these posts here on the Home page or on the 
Haiku Page  of this blog.

If you have pictures or articles or thoughts for the day that you would like to share, please contact Aleks Monk, Blog Moderator or Peggy Garber, Unit 86 President, via email.  We will try to set up a Blog Contact US Form, but this may take some time to figure out.  Please be patient with our efforts as we try to bring this bog back to life.

Peggy Garber


Sunday, February 16, 2020

'Perfect Revolution' film at Northwest Film Forum •  Wed Feb 19, 7:00pm



Wed Feb 19: 7.00pm
1515 12th Ave, Seattle WA 98122

$13 General Admission
$10 Student/Child/Senior
$7 Member

Tickets at:
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4455930

About
** Co-presented with Friends of Asian Art Association, Filmination, and Japan Foundation! Bar opens at 6:00pm. Please come have a drink, make a donation, or network in the Northwest Film Forum lobby!**

A romantic film based on the true story of activist Kumashino Yoshihiko, who raises awareness of the sexuality of disabled people through lecturing and event activities. Perfect Revolution is written and directed by Junpei Matsumoto (Embers).
Kuma (Lily Franky) has been afflicted with cerebral palsy since childhood. His resulting inability to fully use both hands and feet confines him to a wheelchair, but he is an active advocate for engaging public discourse about the sexual lives of disabled people. During this advocacy work he meets Mitsu (Seino Nana), a sex worker with an emotional condition, and falls in love. Together they attempt to break down obstructive social barriers around them.