World Gardens in a Flash

A stroll through Kubota Gardens will introduce any visitor to Seattle, WA, or local the basics of Northwest garden design plants and Japanese garden features. Started in 1927 by Fujitaro Kubota as part of his gardening company, the garden was donated and turned into a public feature in 1923.

What should visitors to Kubota Garden’s look for? Northwest plants such as colorful spring blooming azaleas and rhodedendrons are a special treat in terms of color. Japanese maples with their delicate leaves, changing foliage and delicate flowers and seeds. Giant 50-ft tall trees that form a backdrop for garden spaces including native doug fir, big leave maple, elm, and cedar. Lush green lawns beg you to lie in the shade if dry enough and mosses a plenty. Whichever way you turn, Kubota gardens will provide many beautiful plants to enjoy. To see more pictures, see Mid Beacon Hill blog.

The picture I’ve included from Kubota Gardens, shows one of the primary five styles of Japanese gardens talked about in “Creating Japanese Gardens” by Ortho Books. The essence of a stroll garden is to provide an expansive place filled with beautiful scenery to look at including ponds and changing color. Reflections add to the broad appeal of a Japanese stroll garden which provides the chance to stretch ones legs and mind. Look for variations in the walkway and the openness of the foliage and test how it alters your mood from point of discovery that begs for a photograph to places where the walk speeds you up to the next view point.

Stroll gardens are meditative, make the visitor respond to nature and provide many of the best plants to be seen in a Japanese Northwest garden. I hope a visit to Kubota Gardens will bring you much pleasure and a chance to understand the Japanese garden style, the stroll garden.