Monthly Archives: September 2018

Kinsaku Nakane garden in Boston

Posted on September 20, 2018 by usjapanesegardens
the entrance gate to Tenshin-en was renewed after our visit thanks to the efforts of carpenter Chris Hall

the entrance gate to Tenshin-en was renewed after our visit thanks to the efforts of carpenter Chris Hall whose work may be seen on his blog http://thecarpentryway.blogspot.com/

Continuing to post gardens visited, but not yet posted, this entry is to a memorable garden with  connection to Hilo’s Lili`uokalani Gardens.

Designed and installed in the late-1980s by Kinsake Nakane, this garden features the assistance of one of his students, now a well-known landscaper and author, Julie Moir Messervy.

There are viewing benches off to one side of the garden outside. The garden also may be viewed from one of the galleries inside the Museum of Fine Arts.

overview from inside the garden (photo by Bill F. Eger)

detail of the stones from the path

the curving path from the main gate

detail of path transition

Maple at Tenshin-En adjacent to the Boston Fine Arts Museum

The connection to Lili`uokalani Gardens in Hilo? Kinsaku Nakane designed the stone lantern placement in the late 1960s. Lanterns were delivered by Japanese training ships in 1967 and the lanterns were placed in 1968 to commemorate the centennial of Gannenmono, the first official group of Japanese who came to Hawaii to work in the sugar industry..

For more about the Museum of Fine Arts, please see https://www.mfa.org/

For more about the garden, please see https://www.mfa.org/collections/featured-galleries/japanese-garden-tenshin-en

For more about Kinsaku Nakane, please read https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01445170.1995.10412526

For more about Julie Moir Messervy, please see her design studio Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JulieMoirMesservyDesignStudio/

Categories: Boston, Massachusetts | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Philadelphia Japanese garden offers learning opportunities

Posted on September 18, 2018 by usjapanesegardens

One way to learn about the elements of Japanese gardens is to attend regional events or biennial conferences sponsored by the North American Japanese Garden Association.

Such events combine workshops with local experts and tours of nearby gardens for a full experience.

I’m still catching up on many gardens visited and not yet posted. Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was host to this regional event in 2013 concentrating on water features.

Francis Weng discussed the chemistry of ponds
(photo by Bill F. Eger)

Jim Lampl discusses waterfall construction during the NAJGA regional conference on ponds at Shofuso in Philadelphia (photo by Bill F. Eger)

Kimberly Andrews, past president of NAJGA and director of Shofuso, welcomes the regional conference attendees to Philadelphia (photo by Bill F. Eger)

Dr. Seiko Goto discusses repairs to the pond at Byodo-In that restored the suhama, a smooth stone beach extending into the pond. (photo by Bill F. Eger)

a class photo from the NAJGA regional conference in Philadelphia 2013

entry to Shofuso with a new (in 2013) hornbean hedge to direct traffic (photo by Bill F. Eger)

detail on a gift rock from China (photo by K.T. Cannon-Eger)

Shofuso, the side facing the pond (photo by Bill F. Eger)

the pond, repaired after flood waters about six years ago (photo by K.T. Cannon-Eger)

a boat dock stone is used as a place to stand and feed the fish (photo by K.T. Cannon-Eger)

koi in the pond at Shofuso (photo by K.T. Cannon-Eger)

a serene guardian tucked into a bamboo hedge at Shofuso (photo by K.T. Cannon-Eger)

To learn more about Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, please refer to
http://japanphilly.org/shofuso/

To learn more about the North American Japanese Garden Association, membership, journal, conferences and events, please refer to https://najga.org/

 

Categories: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Photography Contest open

Posted on September 17, 2018 by usjapanesegardens

Path of Reflections (c) Jared Goodwin, 2018 grand prize winner in the calendar contest plus People’s Choice winner in the photographers’ exhibit

The third annual photographers contest now is open. Deadline for entry is Thursday, September 20, 2018.

calendar winner

photo by Alvis Upitis 2017
Photographers Bruce Omori and Ken Goodrich join Cal Dorn of Paradise Helicopters to present the grand prize in the 2017 calendar contest to Kenneth W. Jackson

a promotional post card for the second annual photographers exhibit features the work of Al Yano, Jared Goodwin, K.T. Cannon-Eger and Rita French

Special exhibits of the winning images are held each year during the Banyan Drive Art Stroll, held the second Saturday of January.

photo contest

90 images were entered in the first Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens photo calendar competition — winners will be on display at Banyan Gallery Saturday, Jan. 14

Details for entry:

Call to Photographers

Inviting Photographers to enter their images in the 3rd Annual Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens Photo Calendar 2019 Contest that celebrates the centennial of Lili`uokalani Gardens in Hilo Hawai`i.

Theme: Celebrating the Crown Jewel of the Crescent City

Lili`uokalani Gardens is composed of four parks: the original Japanese-style landscape nicknamed Nihon Koen bounded by Banyan Drive and Lihiwai Street, Moku Ola (Coconut Island), Rakuen, and Isles. When the garden around Waihonu was built a hundred years ago, Hilo was known as The Crescent City.

Selected Photographs of the Gardens will be featured in the 3rd Annual Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens Photo Calendar.

Proceeds from calendar sales will help fund the work of Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens to improve and beautify the park. There is no entry fee for this contest.

The photographer whose image is chosen for the calendar cover will receive a free flight on Paradise Helicopters with Bruce Omori and Mick Kalber, award winning volcano photographers.

New work is encouraged. Images accepted in previous years are not eligible.

A photo credit will appear with each selected calendar image. Photographers featured in the Calendar will receive 2 free calendars for full page or 1 free calendar for side image.

Simple digital entry process:

Send your entry form along your jpeg image file(s) to contest chairman Vijay Karai // Vijaykarai1953@gmail.com

Images should be JPEG sized to 2000 pixels on the longest side. Name the image file with the name of your entry and your initials. Example: Title_of_your_work _HL.jpg

Photographers whose images are selected for inclusion in the calendar will be asked to provide a full resolution file for printing and a signed release that grants the Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens one time use of the image in the 2019 calendar and any current or future use for promotion of calendar.

Photographers retain all rights to their images.

Questions about the contest can be emailed to contest chairman Vijay Karai // Vijaykarai1953@gmail.com

The entries will be selected by professional photographer, Mary Goodrich.
Mary Goodrich of Volcano is a self-taught photographer.  Her works have been exhibited nationally and internationally and purchased by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Her photographic experience ranges from multiple projection slideshows, B&W darkroom printing and hand painted silver prints, Polaroid transfer, and Photoshop. She currently is exploring iPhoneography.

Entry Form

Send this form & your JPG files to Vijay Karai Vijaykarai1953@gmail.com

Name

Address

Phone

Email

*************************************************************

Title of Entry #1

File Name of Entry #1

 

Title of Entry #2

File Name of Entry #2

 

Title of Entry #3

File Name of Entry #3

 

Title of Entry #4

File Name of Entry #4

 

Title of Entry #5

File Name of Entry #5

 

Title of Entry #6

File Name of Entry #6

 

Important dates:

Submission Deadline: 5 p.m. Thursday September 20, 2018

Notification of Acceptance:  Thursday October 4, 2018

Submission of hi-resolution images by Monday October 8, 2018

Calendar printed by Monday November 22, 2018

Third Annual Banyan Drive Art Stroll with photographers’ exhibition

Saturday January 12, 2019 noon to 6 p.m.

Categories: Hawaii, Hilo | Tags: , , , | 1 Comment

Pond Cleaning Continues

Posted on September 14, 2018 by usjapanesegardens

Waihonu, the traditional fish pond at the heart of Lili`uokalani Gardens, continues to have mud removed by hand thanks to the dedication of UH-Hilo students. They will be on hand again Saturday, September 22, from 8 a.m. until noon.

Some protective gear is available for those going into the pond. Footwear and gloves are a must. Muck is removed from the walls edging the pond and three feet out into the pond to help protect the walls from damage should pumping or dredging be done in the future.

September 22 volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. in the old sumo ring near the small parking lot off Banyan Drive marked in this photo (aerial photo courtesy of 2017 calendar contest grand prize winner Kenneth W. Jackson and Paradise Helicopters)

An invasive seaweed known as gorilla ogo also is removed. The seaweed is available to gardeners who wish to add it to their compost. The muck is de-watered on site then carried in buckets to a farm.

There are land based chores also for those who do not wish to go into the water.

Here is a link to a flyer on the pond cleaning effort. Mahalo!

PondCleanFlyer-8

Volunteers from UH-Hilo will be joined by officers and crew of the visiting US Coast Guard Cutter Walnut, a 225-foot sea going buoy tender home ported in Honolulu. Among recent tasks accomplished by USCGC Walnut was a joint mission with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and USCGC KUKUI in the recovery of more than 22,000 lbs of high seas drift net from the northwest Hawaiian Islands.

Categories: Hawaii, Hilo | Tags: , | Leave a comment

Blog at WordPress.com.