japanese garden |
THE JAPANESE GARDEN--Written by Marjorie Clausing and Joy Spurr 1970
The concept of a Japanese Garden began within the Arboretum Special
Projects Committee in 1937. The idea was quiescent until 1957 when Carl
Ballard, President of the Arboretum Foundation, appointed Mrs. Neil Haig to
take action to make the garden a reality.
After the basic work of setting up a committee, estimating costs and raising
funds, Mrs. Haig prepared a 12-page prospectus which was presented to Mr.
Yoshiharu Takeno, Consul-General of Japan. Mr. Takeno requested aid for the
garden from various cities of Japan. The first response was from Seattle's sister
city, Kobe, which sent two lovely, hand-hewn, granite lanterns (one weighing
five tons).
At about the same time Mr. S. Moriwaki of the Tokyo Motropolitan Park
Department visited the Arboretum. Upon seeing the land set aside for the
Japanese Garden, he volunteered assistance. When notes of gratitude were sent
to the Governor of Tokyo for Mr. Moriwaki's offer, the City of Tokyo further
responded with a truly splendid gift, the Japanese Tea House.
Ground was broken May,1959, in the presence of Mayor Gordon Clinton and the
Japanese Consul General, Mr. Yoshiharu Takeno. At this time the tea house was
being constructed under the supervision of Mr. H. Hasegawa and Mr. T. Kato,
representing the Shimizu construction Company of Tokyo.
Mr. Iida visited the site of the garden in December and made sketches and
photographs before returning to Japan. There, working with six of the foremost
landscape designers, including Mr. K. Inoshita, a master of landscape
engineering and design, he drew up the 38 pages of plans.
Mr. Iida and his assistant, Mr. T. Kitamura, returned to Seattle in March 1960, to
supervise the construction. Yorozu Gardening company of Seattle was
designated prime contractor, and Mr. Richard I. Yamasaki handled the rock work.
The garden area of about four acres was cleared, the lake dredged and
enlarged. Over 9,000 yards of earth were brought in to build the twin mountains.
From Bandera, on the Snoqualmie River, over 600 rocks were hauled, each
carefully selected by Mr. Iida and handled with care to prevent scratching.
Individual rocks weighed over a thousand pounds and some as much as eight
tons. Each rock went to its pre-selected spot and most are buried in the
Japanese tradition, two-thirds underground. Smaller stones were selected and
placed with equal precision, and some stones were shipped from Tokyo. Over
200 feet of rock walls were placed.
Hundreds of shrubs and trees were planted, many native to Japan. Cherry trees
were the gift of the Japanese Community Service and were planted by the
Japanese Gardeners Association.
There are 10 hand-carved granite lantern and a pagoda imported from Japan, a
traditional stone washing basin adjacent to the tea house with a hand-made
bamboo dipper for the 'owner's use.'
Man-made structures include two entrance gates, two wooden bridges, moon
viewing stand, arbor and two shelters.
This charming garden was made possible through the generosity of one
anonymous individual and his wife, living in the Seattle region, who bore the
major part of the costs. (Mr. and Mrs. Prentice Bloedel). Notable contributions
were made by the University of Washington, including engineering and staffing,
the City of Seattle by providing funds for the surrounding fence, sidewall and
lighting, the Arboretum Foundation, and many other local firms, foundations,
and individuals. The Prentice Bloedel Unit No. 86 was organized in 1967 to
provide leadership in sustaining the garden.
The Japanese Garden was dedicated and opened to the public on June 5,
1960. May it bestow upon all who enter its gates, the benediction of beauty,
peace, and tranquility.
* Foremost living landscape designer is Mr. K. Inoshita whose signature
appears on every sheet of the Japanese Garden plans. Working carefully with
six other landscape design engineers, Mr. Inoshita and his aides spent three
months preparing the plans utilized in constructing the garden. His work, and
that of his outstanding assistants, was given to the City of Seattle and the
University of Washington Arboretum as a gift from the City of Tokyo and from the
government of Japan -- for which we owe a debt of gratitude in great
abundance
* Creator of more than a thousand Japanese Gardens is Mr. Juki Iida, the
landscape design engineer who assisted in preparing the plans for our garden,
and supervised the entire construction. His work, of almost a half a year's
duration, is a gift of the City of Tokyo and of the Japanese Government. Mr. Iida
has so endeared himself here, not only as an artist of landscape design and
construction, but as a warm friend to all peoples represented in Seattle, that it is
with deep regret that his legion of admirers will watch his return to his
homeland. It is our hope that he will return often to see the maturing of our
garden which he built.
* These are gifts extraordinary in history between peoples and governments.
We hope you will return here often, to enjoy the changing beauties of the Tea
Garden from season to season. It will be open daily from 10 am to sunset.
The concept of a Japanese Garden began within the Arboretum Special
Projects Committee in 1937. The idea was quiescent until 1957 when Carl
Ballard, President of the Arboretum Foundation, appointed Mrs. Neil Haig to
take action to make the garden a reality.
After the basic work of setting up a committee, estimating costs and raising
funds, Mrs. Haig prepared a 12-page prospectus which was presented to Mr.
Yoshiharu Takeno, Consul-General of Japan. Mr. Takeno requested aid for the
garden from various cities of Japan. The first response was from Seattle's sister
city, Kobe, which sent two lovely, hand-hewn, granite lanterns (one weighing
five tons).
At about the same time Mr. S. Moriwaki of the Tokyo Motropolitan Park
Department visited the Arboretum. Upon seeing the land set aside for the
Japanese Garden, he volunteered assistance. When notes of gratitude were sent
to the Governor of Tokyo for Mr. Moriwaki's offer, the City of Tokyo further
responded with a truly splendid gift, the Japanese Tea House.
Ground was broken May,1959, in the presence of Mayor Gordon Clinton and the
Japanese Consul General, Mr. Yoshiharu Takeno. At this time the tea house was
being constructed under the supervision of Mr. H. Hasegawa and Mr. T. Kato,
representing the Shimizu construction Company of Tokyo.
Mr. Iida visited the site of the garden in December and made sketches and
photographs before returning to Japan. There, working with six of the foremost
landscape designers, including Mr. K. Inoshita, a master of landscape
engineering and design, he drew up the 38 pages of plans.
Mr. Iida and his assistant, Mr. T. Kitamura, returned to Seattle in March 1960, to
supervise the construction. Yorozu Gardening company of Seattle was
designated prime contractor, and Mr. Richard I. Yamasaki handled the rock work.
The garden area of about four acres was cleared, the lake dredged and
enlarged. Over 9,000 yards of earth were brought in to build the twin mountains.
From Bandera, on the Snoqualmie River, over 600 rocks were hauled, each
carefully selected by Mr. Iida and handled with care to prevent scratching.
Individual rocks weighed over a thousand pounds and some as much as eight
tons. Each rock went to its pre-selected spot and most are buried in the
Japanese tradition, two-thirds underground. Smaller stones were selected and
placed with equal precision, and some stones were shipped from Tokyo. Over
200 feet of rock walls were placed.
Hundreds of shrubs and trees were planted, many native to Japan. Cherry trees
were the gift of the Japanese Community Service and were planted by the
Japanese Gardeners Association.
There are 10 hand-carved granite lantern and a pagoda imported from Japan, a
traditional stone washing basin adjacent to the tea house with a hand-made
bamboo dipper for the 'owner's use.'
Man-made structures include two entrance gates, two wooden bridges, moon
viewing stand, arbor and two shelters.
This charming garden was made possible through the generosity of one
anonymous individual and his wife, living in the Seattle region, who bore the
major part of the costs. (Mr. and Mrs. Prentice Bloedel). Notable contributions
were made by the University of Washington, including engineering and staffing,
the City of Seattle by providing funds for the surrounding fence, sidewall and
lighting, the Arboretum Foundation, and many other local firms, foundations,
and individuals. The Prentice Bloedel Unit No. 86 was organized in 1967 to
provide leadership in sustaining the garden.
The Japanese Garden was dedicated and opened to the public on June 5,
1960. May it bestow upon all who enter its gates, the benediction of beauty,
peace, and tranquility.
* Foremost living landscape designer is Mr. K. Inoshita whose signature
appears on every sheet of the Japanese Garden plans. Working carefully with
six other landscape design engineers, Mr. Inoshita and his aides spent three
months preparing the plans utilized in constructing the garden. His work, and
that of his outstanding assistants, was given to the City of Seattle and the
University of Washington Arboretum as a gift from the City of Tokyo and from the
government of Japan -- for which we owe a debt of gratitude in great
abundance
* Creator of more than a thousand Japanese Gardens is Mr. Juki Iida, the
landscape design engineer who assisted in preparing the plans for our garden,
and supervised the entire construction. His work, of almost a half a year's
duration, is a gift of the City of Tokyo and of the Japanese Government. Mr. Iida
has so endeared himself here, not only as an artist of landscape design and
construction, but as a warm friend to all peoples represented in Seattle, that it is
with deep regret that his legion of admirers will watch his return to his
homeland. It is our hope that he will return often to see the maturing of our
garden which he built.
* These are gifts extraordinary in history between peoples and governments.
We hope you will return here often, to enjoy the changing beauties of the Tea
Garden from season to season. It will be open daily from 10 am to sunset.
CHADO The Way of Tea Wednesdays Saturdays and Sundays Washington Park Arboretum Japanese Garden For a complete listing please visit CALENDAR For tickets and reservations call the Washington Park Arboretum Japanese Garden at (206) 684-4725 |
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