Herald - Issue 415

Page 50 • The HERALD • 18th November 2021 v EMAIL: editor@herald-publishing.co.uk v THE TREE & LANDSCAPE WIZARD All aspects of tree surgery, garden maintenance and landscaping undertaken Family run business for over 20 years No Job Too Big or Small Please call 07552 977731 for a Free Quotation | DOWN THE GARDEN PATH | BEAULIEU HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY For the October meeting members of Beaulieu Horticultural Society were transported to the other side of the world with John Baker and his talk ‘Gardens of Japan’. With his partner June Colley, who recently was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society Veitch Memorial Medal for her outstanding conservation work in relation to Hostas, he has created a delightful garden. Situated in Lindford, North Hampshire it is known as ‘ e Hanging Hosta Garden’. It contains over 1,700 Hosta plants, including 3 National Collections and has featured on BBC Gardeners World. June and John’s pursuit of Hostas has inevitably lured them to Japan where they are a native plant. With his excellent photography John was able to take the audience on an informative tour of Japanese gardens and the wonderful variety of plants they contain. ey were told that in the UK, the Japanese Gardens such as those at Tatton Park, Cheshire or Compton Acres, Dorset are really created in a western style and are more of a characterisation of a Japanese garden. In the 19th century an English architect, Joseph Condor, who had worked in Japan, published a book, ‘Landscape Gardening in Japan’ and this started a trend for Japanese garden design. In fact, the idea of such gardens originally came from China. Japanese Gardens are created in a particular style and using plans and photos, John illustrated the three di erent styles. Initially the gardens were Hill and Pond Stroll Gardens with ponds and paths where the Emperor could wander. ese are glorious in cherry blossom time but they might also contain spectacular displays of Azaleas and Peonies. A di erent particular style is the Zen Garden, a dry garden created as a space for contemplation. Such gardens should be viewed through a window. Raked gravel is used to represent water, with stones used in odd numbers and statues and shrines devoted to Buddha, all contributing to a spiritual feel. e third style is the Botanical Garden which naturally specialises in plants, especially Hostas. A little known fact in the UK is that the new young shoots of Hostas are an edible delicacy and can be bought in Japanese markets. John’s talk toured Japan’s many islands visiting Yokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Royal Gardens, Temple Gardens, Mountain Gardens, Island Gardens and Peace Gardens. One garden was memorable for a wonderfully carved shrine of the ree Wise Monkeys demonstrating the maxim “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” . Finally members learnt that an authentic Japanese garden should contain ve essential elements these being - rocks: with odd numbers placed in a triangular arrangement - water: which could be in a bamboo pipe, a stream or stone water basin - lanterns: which should be of natural stone - stepping stones: in a continuous ow but not in a straight line and - plants: which may include moss, ferns and trees. A er so many months when they have all been con ned to home territory, it was good to have their horizons widened again and to travel with a knowledgeable enthusiast to the many di erent Gardens of Japan. Japanese Garden at Compton Acres