GardenDesignOnline

Japanese Garden Re-opens

 

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 The historic Japanese Garden at The Huntington in San Marino, California, re-opens on April 11th after a year-long renovation, just in time for the garden's centennial.

A number of new features were added, including an authentic ceremonial teahouse (Seifu-an -- arbor of pure breeze) surrounded by a tea garden landscaped in the traditional style. 

The existing Japanese house (seen here) and ornamental wood trellises were renovated during the $6.8 million project, the central pond system was repaired, and pathways were improved. 

More than 20 million people have visited the nine-acre garden since it opened to the public in 1928, and gardens director James Folsom says that it "teaches us about Japan's unique landscape traditions, craftsmanship, horticulture and rituals."

The garden was actually established in 1912, when many wealthy Americans were adding exotic gardens to their estates. Many of the garden's original plants and the house, made of wood, paper, and reed mats, were moved from a property in Pasdena, where the owners had failed at a commercial tea garden. The Huntington added a moon bridge built by a Japanese craftsman.  

The garden has many iconic Japanese garden elements and plants: a walled courtyard with a rock and sand garden; a bonsai collection; Japanese red and black pines; flowering apricot, peach and cherry trees; wisteria, camellias and azaleas.

"For those who still wonder about the distinctions between a Japanese and a Chinese garden, walking from one to the other here at The Huntington will give you ample opportunity to compare and contrast," according to president Steven Koblik. "They couldn't be more different, each extraordinarily beautiful," he added.

April 17, 7:30 PM, Jim Folsom discusses the history of the garden.

(photos: The Huntington)

Plants: Eco Tulips, Daffs & More

I was not even aware of "organic" bulbs, but actually ...

there's a 2nd annual organic tulip festival in Brightwood, VA April 2-17 sponsored by EcoTulips, the only US supplier of organically-grown tulips. Sixty thousand of their tulips will be available for picking ... and visitors can also tiptoe through the inspiration garden filled with other kinds of organic bulbs .. daffodils, crocus, grape hyacinths, frittilaria & hyacinths.

The festival also includes wine tastings, farm tours and lectures by the EcoTulips owner Jeroen Koeman, descendant of a long line of tulip growers in the Netherlands.

Outdoor Furniture Hits New Highs

A new report on the outdoor furniture market in the United States says sales will exceed five billion dollars within the next five years. Global Industry Analysts Inc attribute the growing market to increasing consumer demand for lavish outdoor living spaces, comfortable seating, and elaborate lighting. 

The trend is also being driven by the continuing economic recovery, the general popularity of fashionable lifestyle products, and higher disposable incomes.

The report says there's a growing demand for outdoor rooms, "nesting," and "cocooning," all factors that are contributing to the growth of the outdoor furniture industry.  Also boosting sales are demographic changes, outdoor renovation and environmental concerns.  Competition has moved from the premium part of the market to the mass-market level, and even "average" households are embracing the trend.

Governed by fashion styles, the current trend is toward neutral colors and simple designs (like the furniture shown above).  The report says a preference for metal garden furniture is growing at a steady pace, with aluminum furniture leading the way.  There's also a steady preference for wicker and/or rattan, the oldest in terms of material choice.  According to the report, consumers like wicker because of its elegance and fine design and believe that rattan is eco-friendly and natural.

Nevertheless, high-quality outdoor furniture is expected to stay extremely competitive in coming years, as the market is expected to be swamped with new product innovation and ever-more sophisticated styles.  Homeowners see outdoor furniture as a statement about style, rather than a necessity.  As the report puts it, "Affluent households consider outdoor furniture as a symbolic representation of their wealth, affluence and social status in the community, and in this regard increasingly opt for high-end alternatives."

(photo:  Wicker lookalike by Interieurs)