Posts Tagged With: Shofuso

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: NAJGA, pond, Shofuso | Leave a comment

Sukiya Living magazine ranks Japan and North America gardens

Posted on January 15, 2016 by usjapanesegardens

The Adachi Museum and its surrounding gardens in Shimane prefecture are way up top on my bucket list. I have been hearing and reading about this place for years.

Once again, Adachi tops the garden ranking published by Sukiya Living: The Journal of Japanese Gardening in December of each year. The following link lists 50 gardens in Japan and another link at the bottom of this ranking leads to the 2014 rankings.

The 2015 garden ranking for gardens in Japan:

http://gardenrankings.com/

This link will take you directly to the Adachi Museum site:

https://www.adachi-museum.or.jp/en/

For the 2013 garden ranking for Japanese gardens in the United States and Canada, follow in this link. We have seen seven of the ten. There is a more current listing, but we could not locate a link.

http://zengardendreaming.com/?p=518

At Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Philadelphia, koi are so happy they are snorting for joy — well, snorting for food, anyway!

How the Shiosai Project works, by Suikiya Living Magazine, the Journal of Japanese Gardening, published by Roth Teien:

http://gardenrankings.com/faqs/faqs.html

volunteer help

Careful maintenance on a daily basis is the key to a serene garden and Nitobe Memorial Garden in Vancouver BC practices this art

We welcome comments, but please do not waste your time trying to spam. All comments are reviewed before posting.

Seattle Japanese Garden has the benefit of a well organized cadre of volunteers to assist park staff with maintenance, guided tours, programs and exhibits

Photographs otherwise not credited in a caption are by K.T. Cannon-Eger. If you re-post, please be nice and give credit.

For more information on Sukiya Living magazine and to subscribe, look for information at http://www.rothteien.com or write to Sukiya Living Magazine & Tours, P.O. Box 1050, Rockport Maine 04856.

Categories: Alberta, British Columbia, Canada, Japan, Philadelphia, Seattle, Washington state | Tags: Adachi Museum, Nitobe Memorial, Seattle Japanese Garden, Shiosai ranking, Shofuso, Sukiya Living magazine | 4 Comments

Pond Construction Workshop in Philadelphia

Posted on July 27, 2013 by usjapanesegardens

koi so happy they are snorting for joy — well, snorting for food, anyway!

During pond reconstruction last year, stones designed to be a boat landing were discovered. The original plans for the garden — made in the mid-1950s — were carried out in the renovation and now provide a koi feeding station at Shofuso Japanese House and Garden.

[The first part of this post announced the workshop. See the end of the post for more photos of the garden and workshop.]

The North American Japanese Garden Association will present a two-day regional workshop in Philadelphia, PA, Friday and Saturday September 20 and 21.

The first day will begin with a presentation on the history and significance of water in the Japanese garden setting by Seiko Goto, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture at Rutgers University. Professor Goto holds a Master in Horticulture from Chiba University Japan as well as a Master in Landscape Architecture from Harvard.

The rest of the day will be spent on designing and constructing water features for a Japanese style garden. Presenter is Jim Lampi, a design-build landscaper specializing in the creation of ponds, waterfalls and naturalist landscapes.

Topics to be covered include: design considerations plus influences and inspirations for design. Also covered will be construction methods; comparing concrete, liner, hybrid concrete with liner; filtration; drainage; rock edging and plant edging; rocks and boulders: selection, acquisition, and placement using machine or sling.

Friday evening will offer guided tours of Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, refreshments and a presentation by Dr. Frank Chance, director of the Center for East Asian Studies at University of Pennsylvania.

Saturday’s events concentrate on koi: their origins, variety, and selection plus discussions of water conditions and creating a healthy environment. Also covered will be koi anatomy, reproduction, health and how to recognize illness, methods of treatment, feeding and seasonal considerations.

Joseph S. Zuritsky, owner of Quality Koi at Carney’s Point, NJ, with 40 years experience and numerous awards, will lead a tour of Nisei Koi Farm and deliver presentations on the above topics.

To make reservations, contact NAJGA by e-mail to KYanagi@NAJGA.ORG or telephone (503) 222-1194. You may also click on the link below to print out a registration form for for information, fees, hotel registration and mailing information.

Click to access Philadelphia%20Workshop%20Information%20and%20Registration%20Form%20%281%29.pdf

If you wish to learn more about Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, visit their web site:

http://www.shofuso.com/

or find them on FaceBook.