Deep digging

As if I didn’t have enough digging to do, I dig a pool by hand, or should I say by foot.

I started this project about 10 years ago, but since we have gotten an unlimited supply of farm water we don’t really need it for that, so it’s been at a stand still for a few years. Now with plenty of time on hand, I am back into it again. More as a landscape feature (garden art) now.

The spiral down-ramp is taking form, but there is quite a bit more to do.

The dirt mound grows.

When the digging is done, the mound will be shaped and planted with grass.

Warmth accumulator

The second warmth-of-the-sun accumulator for the grape ’solaris’ is finished.

I wish I’d known how easy and so much fun this is, when I was younger, I would have made a stone barrier all the way around the garden. To help keep critters out, and because I like the natural beauty of it.

Strong back weak mind!

Diggin it

Ya, I’m getting into it. Doing the fall digging for next spring is one of my favorite garden chores

A little bit of yesterddys mowed grass doesn’t hurt.

A lot people prioritise things like bigger, faster, mostest and firstest or more money and less work. Not me, quite the opposite – fun, rest, beauty, artistry and recreation (work) are top priority. I get a lot more profit that way.

Not to speak of the health benefits of dirt, and of course the wonderful smell of fresh turned dirt.

DIRT

Stockholm Garden Show

We’re back again this year to see stuff, buy plants and seeds and meet people. My favorite this year is this rolling green house.

Heat

Soaking up heat!

And radiating it back out.

Garden art

Somewhat ephemeral

Onnea Suomi!

Happy Finland! 

It’s Finlands 100th birthday. Besides their design, music, art, food, Finland has influenced me very much – like in my building ideas when I saw photos of  Finnish garden buildings at an art show. 

Now for some Finnish garden art (random pictures stolen from the internet).

Finlands thing is my thing. 

Kiyumizu dera

One of the most famous and photographed and visited places in Kyoto i the buddhist temple Kiyumizu dera. We went there again today too. We just can’t get enough. And it’s not the last time I hope. 

It was labor day in Japan, so the crowds were big. 

Alot of the buildings were covered in shrowd because they are being repaired. It was the same three years ago it seems but different buildings, so we didn’t go out on the famous balcony for pictures, but got some good ones anyway.

Wisteria in winter covers.

We had a fika break with amazake and warabi mochi. 

And some water from a mountain spring. 

We were there till dark, but didn’t stay for the light show. We walked down to the kamo river and got a river stone for and old friend. Then ended the day with dinner at the vegan restaurant Veg Out – brown rice with a view of the river. 

  

Toji Temple flea market

Every Month on the 21st is the giant flea market at Toji Temple.

We should have gotten up earlier because we weren’t able to get around to see everything, but we started at the right end where there was seeds, plants, and garden stuff. 

We couldn’t find pumpkin seeds as they were out of season, but did get some seeds of vegetables they grow here late in the fall and winter. Hopefully we’ll be able to check out another couple of seed stores before we go. 

Anyway we found a lot of other stuff – clothes, utensils, food etc.

Used kimonos

Traditional garden pants

Roasted broad beans for a snack

Hot amesake with ginger for a pick me up.

And if that’s not enough there’s the ubiquitous coffee shop. 

Autumn leaf festival at Arashiyama

The main pretence for our trip to Japan was to visit Arashiyama (on the outskirts of Kyoto) during the autumn leaf festival!
So far the autumn leaves haven’t impressed me much. Yesterday was a bit rainy, so we went today. We picked a good day. It was sunny with intermittent showers and a cold north wind. Arashi mountain itself was not so colorful, but there were huge crowds of locals and turists to see the autumn leaves. 

After walking all over the place we decided to finish the day with the gardens of Tenryuji Temple.

On the way there, we followed the crowd going in to see the gardens of Hogonin Temple. What a magnificent discovery! A fantastic moss garden canopied with maple trees in every shade of green, yellow, orange and red, complete with a couple of gardeners constantly brushing the falling leaves off the moss. 

Tenryuji had equally impressive gardens with moss, maple trees, water flows, a carp pond, rocks, fences and bamboo groves. 

At the end of the day. We were cold and tired and didn’t bother to go into the temple, but did catch a glimpse of this guy and then had to head back to the ryokan.