spring planting

the idea of having the tea room complete by cherry blossom festival this year far exceeded my imagination when the tea garden was ready for some planting. at last we had a place for a small maple, red against the garden wall. we also found the texture color variety and shade loving nature of the hosta was a natural fit in the small space. our treasure, though, is a tiny trillium we hope will be happy enough to return year after year. our challenge is to find a combination of traditional and native species that will thrive in the shade of the garden.

beside the planting, we also made plans on a second water feature which will extend the sense of a stream flowing from the upper water basin and under the bridge. also,  how to further define the inner garden from the outer garden, the orientation and design of the gates, and where to place the waiting area for the tea room guests.

stucco and moon dust. this week the final coat of stucco was expertly applied by larry. the color became secondary to his careful trowel work which brought out the sandy texture and variegation. as the stucco cures over the next month it will reveal more character and texture. we decided to stick with moondust, the original color choice, which coincidentally, we chose on the day the probe named after the japanese moon goddess kaguya, was purposely crashed into the moon crater. moonifest destiny.

magic and the moon. many years ago i sketched out a series of little garden houses i wanted to build. at the time i did not have the tools or the materials or the landscape to build the little houses. i just now realized that so many of those elements have appeared our tea room without conscious input from me.....

learning curve

learning curve. skilled in the art of applying exterior stucco, larry lawson comes to advise and stays to apply not only the scratch coat but the second coat as well. the final color coat is yet to come but i think the captain and i have confidence that we will be able to do it although the final color has yet to be determined...

we are twice blessed because larry also plays the shakuhachi and his passion for the instrument was one of prevailing winds that inspired the making of a tea room.

rock no rock. the rock was part of the ritual walk on the redwood lined road, a turn around at the gracious oak tree cathedral. one morning it was gone. rustled right out of it's landscape. no small undertaking considering it's size. one, maybe two tons? the other boulder remains in place but having fallen together from the hillside above, the symmetry of the pair's energy is now broken.

we tried a bit of rock rustling ourselves, following a river where many years ago the captain recalled seeing black stones which could eventually become the entrance steps to the tea room.

the tea garden or, roji (pathway or 'dewy ground'), is an integral part of the tea room planning and the stepping stones, or tobi-ishi, will guide the guests to the doorway. we did not find the place on the river but the journey did not disappoint. in the cascades, the autumnal light and leaves were extraordinary and the captain found a river rock with a natural basin that will become part of our tea landscape.

october brought on a harvest moon. a friend on the island encouraged us to add the moon window in the tea room ceiling and it was carefully planned in the hopes of that special full-moon-glow. for a few clear nights, the captain enjoyed the bright night visitor shining just where he planned. in the mizuya, we have completed the flooring, interior stucco and traditional sink. we are designing the special shelving and lighting and the captain has restored a beautiful fir door frame that will became the entrance into the tea room from the preparation area. the treatment of the old barn board wall on the sauna is an ongoing conversation. i appreciate it's weatherworn nature in contrast to the other wood features, the captain likes his wood a bit less rustic. same conversation is ongoing for the color of the exterior stucco which he is beginning to apply. i am partial to a moondust grey for contrast, he is drawn to a caramel color with less obvious contrast. stay tuned.

and watch for rocks.