(no subject)

[kayre]

There's a house along the rail trail here with a walled backyard. The wall has intriguing Asian elements, and I could see the top of a gazebo or pagoda, so I've been very curious. Last Friday when I was out biking, there was a man in the front yard of that house. When he nodded to me, I pulled over and asked if he was the gardener; he responded, "Would you like a tour?" YES!



It is truly a wonder: a double lot, with I think four water features, and not quite too many Asian decorative items, and all beautifully groomed. Bernie, the gardener, is delightful too.

Comments

[amaebi]

Thanks for helping us to peek inside!

[cellio]

Wow!

[kshandra]

"Not quite too many" is exactly the right description.

Thank you for letting us see it with you!

[ranunculus]

I'm interested. Did it seem peaceful and harmonious?
My reaction to the pictures is that it seems disjointed and with a sameness of plant material.
With that amount of Japanese influence I would expect that each element, each step would find "a new delight for the eye or sense". That aesthetic leads to meandering paths with multi-levels. This looks like it has really lovely elements, but lacks the elements of "leading the eye" or surprise around each turn (a surprise might just be a jewel like patch of moss or a particularly interesting shape).

Still it must have been very fun to explore, and the gardener certainly keeps it shipshape!

[kayre]

You've pretty much nailed it-- there are amazingly lovely spots, but the overall design lacks that flow. The house had been basically abandoned when they bought it; after clearing the overgrowth they found the two big water elements and the gazebo (now rebuilt). So I think they groomed areas as they got them cleared, without a grand plan in mind.

Also, I suspect Bernie's husband, whom I didn't meet, may be the one with a love for the little figurines; they are mostly clustered around the one pool closest to the house, while the rest of the garden has fewer items well incorporated. :)

[ranunculus]

Gardens don't always arrive fully formed. If they just hacked it out of the undergrowth and are working with existing elements it might take a while.
Errr, my garden still isn't finished 13 years later.... ;)

[silkensteel]

I agree about the design opinion above - but the climate where you are contributes to the lushness of the yard. :)

[ranunculus]

It certainly is true that lushness is climate influenced, and that my example of moss is both lush and water dependant, however the concept of something that surprises and/or delights the senses isn't. Such a delight could certainly be a rock, statue or even raked sand.