Contentment

If you would like to follow this project from start to finish, please note that the project had multiple phases that were discussed in earlier postings.

After acquiring a Tsukubai water basin from Rob Koschnick at Oriental Garden Supply in Pittsford, NY, digging the electrical trench, and installing a water reservoir, I was able to install a copper "bamboo" water spout which will supply water to the Tsukubia via a pump within the reservoir.

My experience with bamboo gates and fences has taught me that bamboo poles, although authentic and beautiful, do not hold up well to outdoor weather. I have had to replace bamboo after only 2-3 years due to fading and cracking resulting from outdoor exposure. As a result, I wanted something that maintained the esthetic look of bamboo, but would be made of a more durable and long-lasting material. 

Fortunately, I was able to locate just such a product - the  Kakehi Water Spout from the Pacific Stonescape Company in Corvallis, Oregon. Their website offers a vast collection of Japanese related items, many of which are impossible to find locally in my northeast region. 

After inquiring about the copper Kakehi Water Spout, I was fortunate enough to receive advice from the President of the company, Steve Dix, on how to proceed with the building of my Tsukubai water feature. Without his advice, I would have struggled to ensure I was doing the install correctly - much thanks!

Installing the spout proved easier than I had anticipated. A hose from the pump easily attached to the spout, and the spout had a base that allowed me to secure it into the ground with long metal stakes. It is resting stable, but I can also easily remove the spout as needed when future garden maintenance may arise. 

Adjusting the height and distance is important. You want to make sure that the arc of the water will land in the central square of the reservoir and water basin.

Once the spout was installed, I could easily test and adjust the flow of the water. A flow control valve that came with the spout, and attached to the pump, made that process exceedingly easy.

I really like the look of the copper spout and look forward to when it patinas over time. 

It simulates the look of bamboo, but also adds its own unique aesthetic to the overall water feature.

It was now time to place the 250 lb. granite water basin. Initially, I thought the Aquascape AquaBasin 30, a 30 x 30 x 16" reservoir  might have been overkill, but it is engineered to hold 500 lbs and was definitely sturdy enough to hold the basin and the crushed granite stones I used as a top cover.

I also added a geo-mesh atop the reservoir to prevent debris from entering the reservoir tank. Locating real geo-mesh in a small size proved difficult. It only comes in large, expensive roles. So, instead, I opted to use a heavy duty pet-resistant window screen material that I acquired at the local hardware store. 

The much smaller role, and affordable price, made it a good alternative. The screen holes are small, but will allow water to pass through while keeping debris out. Each spring I will be able to move the crushed granite and clean the screen. It should be noted that I did not lay a full sheet. Instead, I cut a reservoir sized square with a basin sized circle so that the screen can be lifted out and cleaned without having to move the granite basin.

It should also be noted that even my best effort at leveling the reservoir needed some adjustment. Unable to move the reservoir, I instead opted for plastic shims that would allow me to make micro adjustments to the basin, ensuring that water more evenly spread across the surface of the basin and drain more evenly into the reservoir.

Once the basin and crushed granite were in place, I made some adjustments to the nearby plantings surrounding the Tsukubia area. In time the plants will grow and and should fill in and gaps.

The last hardscape feature I wanted to add was a stepping stone in front of the basin. The original Tsukubai at Ryōan-ji, in Kyoto, Japan has several stepping stones that are used as an approach to the basin and from which to crouch (the word Tsukubia literally means "to crouch”). 

I did not have any flat stepping stones available, and faux stepping stones looked too much like cement. So, I headed north to the Adirondack Natural Stone Company in Whitehall, NY to search for just the right stone. This stone yard is a vast area of granite, mostly expensive stones that are well out of my possibility to acquire. However, they have an enormous amount of waste and fragments which they were kind enough to let me explore. 

Locating a Hawthorne granite stone that would compliment my crushed granite, larger border stones, and the water basin proved challenging, but after several hours I located a stone that I though was perfect. It was small enough for me to pick up, needed no sculpting, and was not so large that it would detract from the basin. 

It's color and striations were exactly what I was looking for, and I acquired it for $21! 

I decided to install it a bit off center, and across the lawn edging so that it resided in both the Tsukubia area and the lawn, giving it a more natural appearance.

With the installation of the stepping stone, I was finished. 

I did my best to pay homage to the original mid 1600s Tsukubia at the at Ryōan-ji temple, in Kyoto and I think I came pretty close.

Tsukubia at Ryōan-ji

Tsukubia at Songni Yuan

I even added a Hishaku, or tradition Japanese water ladle, to sit nearby the Tsukubia for ritual washing (note - this is mostly for aesthetics, I would not drink the water from this fountain since I am treating it with anti-mosquito larvae chemicals)

The completed Tsukubia looks and sounds beautiful. 

Now when I enter the Zen garden I can formally take time to ritually cleanse myself.

I have planned this project for years and seeing it complete is a dream come true - much thanks to all who helped make it a possibility.

Digging a Well

Today I dug a pit for a water reservoir that will supply the the planned water feature. 

I was concerned about the location due to the size of the reservoir and the close proximity over a very large stone that has resided in this location since pre-2009. The reservoir is an Aquascape AquaBasin 30, a 30 x 30 x 16" reservoir.

I was fortunate because the reservoir fit exactly into the hole that I dug, not an inch to spare. If I had to move that stone, it would have been a challenge. At least 20% of the stone sits below the surface - it is large and heavy.

This reservoir is very sturdy and will hold 500 lbs and 27 gallons of water for the finished water feature. 

I also like that the corner has a removable door that will allow easy access to the pump and water chamber. At $300+ it was not inexpensive, but I want to make sure I do this feature correctly.

Once the hole was dug, I filled in the base of the pit with several inches of drainage stone, then laid weed fabric to sit under and around the reservoir.

The next step will be to install the pump and water spout before I place the granite basin and top-cover of stone. I also need to acquire more stones to create the surrounding border.

It will be a few more days before this project is complete and I am still waiting on the arrival of the electrician to install the electricity (note: the lantern shown above, right will be moved elsewhere).

Trench Digging

Before I can begin work on the planned water feature, I have to dig a trench from the house to a location near the gazebo. This location will allow the water feature pump to be supplied with electricity. The location will also allow for some new lighting in the gazebo and even a small outdoor ceiling fan/light.

Digging the trench was made easier after I purchased an angled trenching spade. 

I can not overstate how useful this shovel was, well worth the $37 I spent.

After moving and covering the bricks and chicken grit within the mini-zen garden, I was ready to dig the first part of the trench along the edge of the back porch.

It was a bit tricky near the rain chain basin, but there was just enough room.

I then angled the trench toward the gazebo post where the outlet would be located.

Initially I planned to dig a straight line from the opposite side of the mini-zen garden along the see-through fence line. 

After consulting with the electrician, it was decided that slight bends in the electrical conduit would not be a problem. By choosing this slightly angled path it eliminated the needs to dig up the large stone, forest grass and the patio bricks at the entrance to the garden.

The soil here is very sandy, so once I got through the first couple of inches of gravel near the top, it was easy to dig the trench 18 inches deep. 

Now that the trench is dug I will need to wait for the electrician to arrive and run the conduit and install the outlets.

In the meantime, I will watch my step.

The Bonsai Gallery

After building my initial bonsai stand, I decided to build three more. 

Once I realized that the stand I designed, and the metal mailbox spike used to hold it, was stable, I took inventory of my leftover cedar posts and boards and determined that I had just enough materials to build three more stands.

After cutting and sanding, the three new stands were built and stained.

I did have to buy some more black stain, and three more mailbox spikes, but the overall costs were within reason - the total for the four stands = $150. Not a bad investment given the improved interest it will add to the garden.

I now have to consider a name change for the passage way from the Middle Gate to the Courtyard. From here on in, I will refer to it as the Bonsai Gallery. 

The Bonsai Garden viewed from the Courtyard

The posts worked well with the existing shrubs within the walkway. Originally, the first stand was placed in the Guanyin bed behind the garage, but I decided to keep them all in one place. Hence, the relocating of the first stand.

Each of the bonsai looks nice on the stands. I kept the size of each box to 12 x 12" so that I could move the plants around if I choose.

 

 

The Bonsai Garden viewed form the Middle Gate entrance

Overall, I am very happy with the outcome. The passageway now has something interesting to see as one passes through. The stand and plants also work well with the large garage wall as a backdrop.

Its now up to me to make sure I do not kill the four bonsai I own.

Sign Language

In preparation for the upcoming 2024 Garden Conservancy Open Days event, I decided to install simple signs within the garden to ensure that visitors stay in designated areas. Actually, it would probably be better to say to keep them out of areas they should not enter.

The Viewing Garden is not supposed to be entered, simply viewed from the driveway or when on the first steps of the stepping stones leading into the Stroll Garden. The field of peastone within is meant to be a metaphor for water, but unfortunately, peastone does not lend itself to raking patterns. Nevertheless, visitors should only view this garden, not enter it.

Once, while visiting the Anderson Gardens in Rockford, Illinois, I had the pleasure of beholding a beautifully raked, patterned garden along side a tea house. 

It was obvious that someone had spent a great deal of time creating the pattern with a rake. However, after returning to admire the sight a few moments later, I was horrified to watch a set of parents and their kids walk right through it, ignoring the bamboo barrier, their footsteps destroying the beauty of the pattern.

I will do my best to educate visitors about the Japanese gardens and the appropriate means by which one can enjoy one first hand without spoiling the experience of others. Hence the signage I have chosen, which simply states "Please Do Not Enter." 

I acquired these small signs via Etsy at a reasonable price. I then attached them to scrap bamboo poles from previous projects. However, my first attempts were not well thought out - they were functional, but unsightly and overly restrictive.

The Viewing Garden barrier/sign in particular was too much. Yes, it would keep people out, but also undermined the esthetic of the garden. Especially when viewed from further along the stepping stones near the East Gate - it simply ruined the view.

The two signs in the Zen Garden were meant to keep people from walking down into into the metaphorical "river bed." In both cases, the stone lined steps can be difficult to navigate. Someone my get hurt if they try to enter.

The bamboo poles were also too tall and ruined the view of the Zen Garden from the courtyard/gazebo area.

Although the first designs were a good start, I needed to modify them so that they were unobtrusive, yet still functional. As a result, I removed the bamboo barrier from the Viewing Garden and replaced it with a tall single bamboo pole and sign. Its still visible, and hopefully visitors will follow its advice.

Along the Zen Garden I simply shortened the two tall bamboo poles. Again, still visible and functional.

In each case, the new approaches do not impact the garden viewing experience. They blend in well, are hidden by greenery when viewed from distant vistas, and should still keep people on the right path.

It should be noted that these sign will only be used during publicly accessible days.

Re-imagination

The plantings within the Dragon's Spine continue to need re-imagination. 

The long-term shrubs, maple, pine, and astilbe are all doing fine. However, most of the plants I planted last fall didn't grow as expected. 

Additionally, many of the hosta were eaten by rabbits and voles early in the spring, leaving them looking a bit distressed.

My plan is to try and fill in most of this area with hosta (I am going to try one more time). To begin, I removed most of the small plantings. I can use them later for filling in gaps. I then removed and transplanted a recovering spirea to another location.

Near the front of the house there were two very large hosta that had become too big for their locations, so I decided to transplant them into the Dragon Spine. 

Since these were two hosta of equal size, I placed them on opposite sides of the maple, in front of the two existing astilbe.

It is safe to say that I like symmetry and balance. Both plants have adjusted to the transplant, even in the midst of blooming. I then traveled around to local nurseries in search of new hosta.

Continuing the trend towards symmetry, I purchased two of each plant, for a total of 16 new hosta, including: 'Prairie Sky', 'Stained Glass', 'Patriot', 'Flavocircinalis', 'Blue Angel', 'Captain Kirk', and Silly String'. Cuttings and transplants from other hosta also were included, bur unfortunately I did not have the names of each handy.

I then spent the next day planting all of the hosta at my disposal, a total of 23 eventually filled the Dragon's Spine (with a total of 67 on property).

I recognize that many of these plants, which were already large, will continue to grow in size next year. My plan is to let them grow into each other and fight amongst themselves for supremacy. I will make adjustments along the way, but I am hoping for one large bed with numerous  and diverse styles of plants (mostly hosta).

So far, the Dragon Spine looks great. I will now have to wait and see how this experiment turns out.

The Dragon's Spine now fits in well with the rest of the garden.

Note: the far left of the Dragon's Spine bed, near the bamboo, lantern, and large stones is off limits - it is going to be the location for a new water feature/basin that I plan to install later in the year - a topic for a later post.