Early Moss

The temperature finally broke the 60 degrees barrier today, the first day in April where it wasn't in the 30s. There was a lot of yard work to be done, mostly gathering up piles of leaves that did not get raked back in the fall. After raking up some leaves, I decided to cut back the Super Blue Liriope (Liriope mascara 'Super Blue') along the edge of the stroll garden. I then moved on to cut back the dead shoots on all of the bamboo plants throughout the garden. In addition, I trimmed the dead wood off the red dwarf maple along the Dragon's Spine.

I was about to finish up, when I realized that the area behind the fence, in the woodlot, had a lot of moss growing about. Being early in the spring, there wasn't a lot of weed growth yet, so, I decided that it would be a good time to harvest up some of the moss and use it within the Zen garden.

When I first built the garden, I had attempted to grow moss along the stone stairway at the center point of the garden. At that time, there were circular granite steps. Unfortunately, the store bought Scotch Moss never took, even after several years of trying. 

Given my success using moss from the wood lot in the stroll garden, I thought it would be worth a try to use the same moss on the steps. 

First, I had to remove all of the pea stone that was in place between the rocks. 

 

Next, I broke up the large sections of the moss I had harvested, and placed it in the spaces between and around the stone steps.

I then gave it a good watering to help it take. So far, I think it looks nice.

 

This area will get plenty of moister once the sprinklers come on later in the season. I will need to keep it under control over time to make sure it doesn't spread too far or cover the rocks. I want to keep the stones visible and I don't want them to become a slippery hazard.

Spring Delayed

It's the first week of April, but it feels more like February. Spring isn't showing up early as hoped and the weather for the next couple of weeks looks like more of the same - cold and wet (with some snow in between).

In the meantime, I am getting ready for the Woodland Gate doors I was planning. First, I located an image of the style I liked:

 Next, I began making detailed plans and drawings for all the measurements:

NOTE: the plans above were altered when it came time to build the gate - 2" cedar boards were used all around and for all the rails except the center, which was a 3" rail. Keep in mind, the actual measurements were 1/4" less than the purchased widths. Making this change kept the final doors in proportion to the actual gate structure (see June 29, 2018 post).

I've already purchased the wood, and the one inch diameter bamboo poles I will be using for the face are ordered and should arrive within two weeks. Here it was I hope it looks like when done:

The plan is to use half-lap joints for the main frame. This should hold it together well, however, I am worried about using screws. I don't want to see them on the frame face and finding a short enough length could be an issue after joining the pieces to together with lap joints. I might use staples instead, combined with glue, that might work. I could also drill out holes for dowels - this might be a more authentic way to proceed since it won't require any screws. I will decide after I get all the pieces cut and dry fitted.

Winter Wonderland

We have been receiving a lot of snow this winter. Several storms have each dumped 15 inches in just the last month. This is actually good for the major shrubs - the slow dripping of the melt will ensure that roots are watered and reduce the likelihood of plants drying out. Additionally, we have had some wonderful views of the garden covered in snow.

Maintenance Plans

I've started to plan for the spring. This coming season I have a lot of garden maintenance to take care of. 

The bamboo panels in the fence are starting to collapse in places. In some cases they have been up seven years. Being split bamboo, they are held together with very flimsy metal wire. Unprotected, these metal wires are rusting and breaking. Additionally, the panels have been bowing. Along the east end of the garden, they have taken a beating these last two winters from wind. 

It now appears that its time to replace them. However, this time around I will use 3/4 inch diameter bamboo fencing. 

When I designed the fence, I did so in a way that could accommodate larger bamboo or 3/4 inch wooden cedar boards. I still like the idea of bamboo, so I can easily purchase eight 8 foot sections online for about $550, including free shipping. I will start with a single panel and then see how it looks before I purchase the remaining 7 panles.

I am also starting the planning stage of the doors for the Woodland Gate. When I constructed the gate this last summer, I knew I would eventually want to include doors. However, I didn't want heavy doors like I placed elsewhere in the Zen garden.

Instead, I wanted more of a Sukiya style set of doors. I had seen several types over the last year and looked elsewhere on line for examples. Below are some doors I have come across that I like:

Below is a doctored photo of my own gate with the style I liked the best (from the image directly above):

Note: this is a doctored photo

My plan is to build a cedar frame this spring and use 1 inch diameter bamboo poles on the front side of each, ensuring that it continues to offer a more open style even when closed. 

Eventually, when the shrubs grow large enough, the doors and plantings should act as an attractive barrier. 

Note: this is a doctored photo

Given that the wood lot behind the gate is not my property, it should alleviate any fears of my neighbor that I am entering his property, while allowing me to create the appearance of a gateway that also provides a sense of security.

Ten Years After

Trusting the Buddha, good and bad,
I bid farewell
To the departing year.
  - Kobayashi Issa

The garden has its origins with the replacement of an old garage with a new garage. That process started in 2007. Now that the ten year anniversary has arrived, I decided to put together a video showing the transition:

I've also included some images showing how the project has expanded beyond the Zen garden over the years:

Zen Garden - Songni Yuan

East Gate Stroll Garden

West Entrance

Dragon's Spine

Woodland Gate

A Gate for all Seasons

Passing through the winter, there hasn't been much to do in the garden. The Woodland Gate has been holding up very well. With each change in the seasons, it has taken on a unique appearance.

I am looking forward to adding another image in the spring once the snows melt. I am also hopeful that the next summer will continue to add changes in the appearance when the Tiger Lilies I transplanted along the fence line will once again add some color.

The Long Fall

This year the Dwarf Maples are doing great and have produced some wonderful colors that have survived through all of October.

Now its time to cut back some plants, rake leaves, and prepare for the long winter.

Sowing Your Oats

I decided to plant two River Mist Northern Sea Oat Grass plants near the side buttresses of the Woodland Gate. These plants like part sun and should grow to about 3' tall, 2' wide. 

I am planting two of them on a temporary basis. they may have to be moved in the future after the nearby 'Europa Gold' arborvitae (thuja occidentalis) start to grow larger.

In the meantime, these plants will act as filler near the gate.

Stepping Stones

As the summer winds down and I get ready to go back to work, the never ending gate project continues. I never thought it would take this long, but essentially the Woodland Gate, Dragon's Spine bed, and the walkway between the Woodland Gate and garden shed has taken me almost all August, and inadvertently fed into several other smaller projects as a result of moving so many plants around.

Wanting to create an authentic looking gate, I decided to add a stone based threshold. I considered several options. In the end, my decision was based on costs, time, and the materials that I was able to obtain. I chose faux textured stepping stones. At $9 each they were affordable, not too heavy, and even though cement, they looked like real stones. The conveniently flat bottoms also made it easier to install. With 42 x 34" area to work with, I purchased six stones and after trying out several patterns (had to fit within the cement footings), went with the configuration below:

It took a full day to remove all the previous pea stone that had been present. For some reason, it was full of dirt and debris. So I shoveled it all up into buckets and literally washed it all clean - a long process using an old salad strainer. My neighbors now think I am an OCD person who washes rocks in his yard (it appears I am).

Then I was able to prep the surface, smooth it out, re-work the plastic edging, and lay down new heavy duty weed fabric.

Within the stepping stone area, I dug down about six inches and laid a thick layer of crushed gravel and sand. Once the stones were carefully placed onto the sand, I then filled the edges and gaps in with a polymeric sand. Once watered, it solidified and helped hold the stones in place. Once I removed the temporary frames I used on the front and back, it was nice and solid.

I then filled in the entire area with the newly washed pea stone, even between the gaps. I also added a piece of left-over edging to the back of the stepping stone threshold to help keep the pea stones in place. Essentially, that edge is the property line, so I do not intend to extend the pea stone past that point.

I did, however, add some small pieces of curved edging and larger stones just in front of each main post. I then planted a Hosta in front of each. Yes, its off property, but I am trying to at least show the neighbor (if he ever comes out this way - he never has) that I attempted to make it look nice. All of this material for these two small features were left over, so there was no costs in doing any of this extra work.

I think it looks nice, and neighborly.

Overall, I think it came out pretty good. It took much longer than I thought, but it was worth the effort.

I'm still waiting on the two last copper post caps, and I have to dig up and relocate all those Tiger Lilies and flatten out that mound just within the woodlot on the other side of the gate, but I'm getting closer to finishing the overall gate project. Oh yea, I have to put down some mulch in some of the areas that were dug up as well. Then I'm done for the season. Just in time to start picking up falling leaves!