SUNNY SKIES ON FATHER'S DAY!

We were so happy to be greeted with sunshine today.  The warmth brought out smiles all around, and we really enjoyed playing for so many people who were appreciating being outside in the sun.  Lots of folks lay down on the grass -- dry at last - and listened and relaxed in a horizontal position.  We talked to a saxophone player from Chicago who hopes to make his own recording soon, and a Korean family who listened to us playing our own arrangement of "Arirang." 

The three fantastic BULL FROG great pictures below were sent to us by our friend Bruce, who artfully captured the frog...perhaps the very one who sits under the dock and croaks on occasion. Thank you Bruce!

(Click on pictures to enlarge)

Today's garden theme is PURPLE.  PURPLE irises, next to the stream and near the pond...so refreshing and elegant. 

The paulownia tree is done blooming -- the end of just a short few weeks of blossoms.

The turtles enjoyed the warmth of the sun, and watched the carp from their rocks.

The waterlilies furthest out in the pond bloom first, it looks like.....

The reflection of the pine tree, in the pond near our platform....

John, heading out with our gear. IT IS SO GREAT TO BE WEARING T-SHIRTS INSTEAD OF WOOL COATS!

Spring is in the air!

"Pathfinder, there is no path. You must make the path as you walk." -- Antonoio Machado

We arrived under cloudy skies at the garden yesterday afternoon, and it was so full of trees and flowers getting ready to burst in to bloom. The clouds were a bit disappointing after yesterday's sunshine, but with all the cold weather recently we were happy to be able to play in the spring air.

We played to a fairly quiet garden, and talked to a Vietnamese couple, who compared Japanese koto music to the music of the similar stringed instrument in Vietnam, the Dantran: "Japanese music is pulling at ou from the inside, it is somewhat sad, with something left unsaid; Vietnamese music is cheerful, happy, and clear....". We also met a young woman who has a Chinese version of the koto, the guzheng, and a Spanish teacher who will be taking her first trip to Japan this summer.

Under today's clouds the wood and bark looked especially dark, contrasting with the verdant greens of the garden today.

A turtle contemplates the stone lantern...At about 2:45 it started to rain. Bicyclist Herb ducked under cover to get out of the rain and say hello. Brian and Jesse - our sons - helped to carry the instruments and gear.





Elegant magnolia blossoms have survived the recent cold and seem full of hope.

The cherry trees in the meadow are ready to burst into bloom....




Each branch is so full of buds!