Winter Garden Work Completed

by Lynnda

Transformed maple  SJG

For those guides who were unable to attend the recent tours led by senior gardener, Sue DeNure, here is a summary of changes you may notice on your tours this year.  Some of the changes were suggested by Masa, a Japanese gardener who annually travels to Seattle to assist in preserving the scale necessary for the garden.  In my opinion, the most incredible work was done on the Japanese maple just inside the entrance.  Masa had suggested that the tree be moved to the left, five to six feet, and turned 180 degrees to better suit its position near the rocks.  To accomplish this feat, the edge rocks were removed, the tree dug out, turned around, moved south six feet, replanted, rocks replaced, and the moss replaced. The path looks natural, and who would have thought that such a transition would ever be possible?  If you were visiting the garden for the first time, you would never guess the extent of this change.  I am looking forward to seeing the tree when the leaves reappear.

Rhododendron sutchuenence in bloom now  SJG

On the eastern side of the path across from the WPA bridge, the cedar (thuja occidentalis pendula) with support has been removed.  The trunk was rotted and the tree was hanging over the path.   Stepping stones were installed to the bench near the paper bark maple, in the area just south east of this new space.  Additional mondo grass was added to better vegetate this area. 

Throughout the garden, maple trees have been pruned.  Some have been removed and one was moved to the west path along the fence.  The mountain area has had some clearing, allowing visitors to see the topography of the mountain, allowing the pagoda to be more visible.   

Looking north at the pagoda  SJG

                                         

The mountain, after some clearing  SJG

Other structures in the garden were either repaired or rebuilt.  The dobashi, or mud bridge, near the former eastern gate, was rebuilt.  The main support beans were still viable, but the cross pieces were replaced with new logs of cryptomeria, salvaged from the MOHAI site.  The willow has a new support beam and was pruned, although the tree is in decline.  The visible black patches on the tree are a type of natural fungus.  The ADA bridge was repaired and a brace was replaced on the wisteria arbor.  The arbor is going to be replaced in the near future.

New support on the willow  SJG

Logs replaced on the Dobashi  SJG

The grounds around the tea house have been pruned and opened for better visibility into the roji.  Two cryptomeria have been removed, trees that were too large for the area.  Their removal has reshaped the valley appearance when viewed from the north end of the inland sea.

Roji and tea house, looking east  SJG

 

 

 

Several cherry trees were diseased and had to be removed.  Some of the trees will be replanted, and a large azalea bed will be installed in the future.

Possibly the most difficult situation for the gardeners this year was the flooding caused by the broken water main above the western side of the garden.  It was fortunate that it happened during the day, and on a day when their were additional crew working in the garden.  A huge amount of water (my notes say 100,000 gallons - is that accurate??)

Tea house visible from the eastern shore  SJG

of chlorinated water made its way into the lake.  Incredibly fast action by gardener Patty kept the damage from being more devastating.  The koi were a major concern.  What would so much chlorinated water do to their health?  Filtering equipment was brought onto the site to filter the water over 2 days.  Additional equipment was used to remove the chlorine from the pond.  The koi survived the ordeal and so far, do not seem to be harmed by this. 

The garden is filled with the promise of spring.  I'm sure I've missed telling about all the changes, so please add comments telling of additional activity that happened this winter.  The garden staff has done a wonderful job of preparing for a new season.  When I strolled through the garden a few weeks ago, before I took Sue's tour, I was oblivious to many of the items she talked about.  It seemed cleaner to me, but in retrospect, I think that feeling was based on a new openness resulting from pruning and cleaning out some of the overgrowth.  The garden is back in scale.  If you haven't visited yet this year, it's time to venture out and watch as spring unfolds.

Rhododendron Sutchuenence   SJG