A Beautiful Day for Viewing Maple Leaves!

What a beautiful, fulfilling day.  The leaves turning, people strolling, families and friends enjoying the special weather. Seattle Parks and Recreation provided Japanese dance, arts, and of course our music to celebrate Maple Viewing Day.  As we played, our hands became chilled - even in the sun - and we realized that the season of outdoor playing is ending...what a wonderful time we had this year!  Thanks to so many of you for your wonderful support and feedback! 

A gorgeous day....!

What a beautiful autumn day -- people seemed to stream through the garden, enjoying the wonderful warmth of the sun and the beautiful leaves. We sold several CDs that were going to be used as gifts....organized people are already starting to think about the upcoming gift-giving season. A happy couple also got engaged at the garden today, witnessed by their friends and family.  An auspicious day all around!

John's shadow as he plays shakuhachi....

The trees and and pond....

Our friend Bruce got this shot, or a crayfish in the pond. Look closely!

The leaves are just beginning to turn.

Still, there is a lot of green that will be here all year.

A maple tree laden with leaves at the edge of the pond.

Some berries, near the outside wall.

This hydrangea bush has been offering a blue accent for months!

Another beautiful day!

How long can it last? The weather was beautiful, with just a gentle breeze over the pond.  With fewer tourists, the garden had more local strollers, including a woman who lives nearby and has walked in the arboretum for 15 years and made her first visit to the garden. She was - of course! - amazed at the beauty.  It really is a hidden treasure. 

The Great Blue Heron visited today -- and spent the whole afternoon fishing, first on one side of the pond, then the other. He must have been quite hungry, because he persisted in spite of quite a few people watching and walking nearby.  As far as we saw, he didn't catch anything....even as we left, he stood, patiently waiting.

John took a picture of  The Visitor behind me, intent on fishing and ignoring everyone....

The beautiful tree is called "Winged Spindle-Tree" according to its tag.  What beautiful autumn foliage!

A close-up shot of the Winged Spindle-Tree.

The branches of other trees become dramatic as they lose their leaves.

Looking up over the teahouse, the trees.

Shrub with berries adds another texture next to a mossy rock.

A few pink waterlilies blossom among the turning leaves. 

Trees line the pond.

The air was so calm, reflections in the water had just the hint of a ripple.

Still waiting and watching as we left...

EN - Like the "En" of Encounter....

A refreshingly sunny day - just a soft breeze and lots of people quietly taking in the changing leaves. We talked to a visitor from Chile, a woman from Chicago, and several local families. John watched a Green Heron walk sprightly across some lilypads and catch a fish in its beak! It was the first time for us to see this bird here -- he stayed for quite a while, landing on the top of a stone pagoda to survey the pond (see below). It was a great day to appreciate Seattle, the garden, and nature.

Sometimes, a gift is so thoughtful and meaningful it is hard to believe. Today, we received a gift like that from our Garden Friend Bruce..two exquisite sake cups, with the kanji for "EN" written on them, created by artist Akiko Graham of Seattle. (You can see more of her wares at her website, www.akikospottery.com.) The cups are below...we will be toasting friendship with them tonight!

EN: Affinity. Unity. Destiny. Interconnectedness.

A Green Heron looks for more lunch....

Behind John, the trees are turning.

A beautiful blue sky, through the pine brances.

Outside the garden, these red berries and turning leaves made me think of winter approaching.

Next to the pond, the leaves and shadow create their own statement.

Autumn is in the air, everywhere....

Autumn even in the colors of the carp. 

Photos from Bruce!

Well, it was POURING down rain when we were supposed to be packing up to go to the garden, and when we called, it was raining there as well. So we cancelled.....

This morning, our friend Bruce Yeager, a regular garden visitor, sent us pictures he took yesterday, and it turns out it was a beautiful afternoon at the garden. Even the Great Blue Heron made a visit. FANTASTIC PICTURES, BRUCE!! Thank you for sharing them. Here they are:

Between Thunderstorms: HEAT!

We had a huge thunderstorm on Saturday night, then it cleared for the afternoon.....later Sunday night, we had rain and thunder again. The mugginess of the weather is much more like a midwest summer than a Seattle weekend!

There were quite a few visitors to the garden, and many of them enjoyed our music sitting under trees or laying on the goza mats on the ground.  We talked to a gentleman who has an old koto in his home in Holland, and a family who was based in northern Japan for three years. The garden is beginning to take on fall colors in the trees, while there are some bright spring-like lilypads in the pond.

A striking dandelion was one of the first things that caught my eye... 

Layering of changing leaves above the pond and teahouse....

John snapped a couple of pictures from the platform while I played...

Listeners,  blissed out....and a very curious young listener who sat for a long time.

Reeds near the pond have an autumn look....

....while the waterlilies offer a refreshing pink. 

The late afternoon sky shows the mugginess.

The moss on the rock reminded me of a river.

Back at the garden!

The biggest change in the garden is the NEW, TEMPORARY ENTRY.  It is being used while a new gatehouse is being built.  It is actually an older, unused entryway that faces Lake Washington Blvd, located about 500 feet from the parking lot.  Unless you are trying to load in lots of equipment such as a quick shade and speaker system (like we are) it doesn 't present any problem at all.  We had trouble navigating, first through the narrow doorway and then finding a trail that we could use. It made us realize how convenient our nice, wide trail along the back of the garden from the past entryway had been!  This week we are trying to think creatively about how we can better pack and load our things into the garden. 

The weather was in the 50's in the morning, and warmed a bit in the afternoon. But perhap because of the chilly air and the start of the summer Olympics there were not very many visitors.  We did talk to an acupuncturist that we've met in the past and his extended family, who were greatly enjoying the music and garden. Several people commented that they could hear the music as they walked in the new entrance.

The temporary entrance is very authentic...like being in Japan.

Because of our chilly weather that keeps coming back every few days, the edges of the leaves are already starting to turn....

The shapes of the trees, lilypads,and the pond seem to complement each other.....

The cloudy sky of the early afternoon made thoughtful reflections in the pond.

A turtle enjoys his rock.

Two stout figures, the tree and the stone lantern.

Our son Brian helped with the moving of equipment.

Right outside the gate, this hydrangea. 

We'll see what next week's weather brings.....