Private gardens add to general knowledge

One of the benefits of doing what we love and telling people about our travels is the occasional invitation to a private garden. Some are residential, some corporate, but they share the characteristic of being unavailable to the general public except for special occasions such as a group garden tour or other by-invitation-only event.

Such was the case with a residential garden and a corporate roof top garden, both in northern California.

the entry to a private residential garden in northern California
photo by Bill F. Eger

The back porch view goes on nearly forever, uniting the distant hills to the edge of the yard

living room furniture is arranged to include the view and the garden

a view from the kitchen continues unobstructed to a hillside waterfall, making great use of the natural terrain      photo by Bill F. Eger

The big lesson from this garden, once again, is the joy attained by inviting the outside in and extending the inside out. Every piece of furniture was arranged to take advantage of the view. No sofa was placed blocking a window. Distant views were “borrowed” to make the garden seem much larger.

The residential garden was in hilly country. Crossing a bridge into a busy urban area, we were invited to a roof top garden constructed decades ago. Within the past ten years, the trees and stones were lifted, repairs made, and all replaced to return serenity to the area.

redone due to engineering concerns, the Japanese roof top garden offers serene views to corporate executives      photo by Bill F. Eger

a pathway runs between plantings to a lantern arrangement with coin basin nearby Photo by Bill F. Eger

a closer view of the coin basin

placement of this coin basin brought to mind another basin in a different state, visible in the next photograph

Here is a coin basin in another state…which placement is correct?

Consulting friends in the business, this catalog photo from Kyoto confirmed the correct placement

This is one small way in which visiting one garden can assist another, even if it is a small thing like advising the southern garden to turn their basin around.

We welcome comments to this blog’s articles. Please do not waste your time trying to post spam. All comments are reviewed before publishing. Be nice.

Photos not otherwise credited are by K.T. Cannon-Eger. Should you choose to re-post a blog entry or use a photo, be nice and give credit. Mahalo and arigato.