In the early 1970’s I visited this garden in it’s creative phase. Planted by Adrian Bloom this 6 acre conifer garden has developed significantly over the last 40 years to show how conifers can be laid out and under planted with great success…
The physical is the spiritual, they are not different. If you get in touch with the physical world with all your senses…
Back in 1994 travelling in Tibet sitting by Nam sola (Heavenly) lake at 15,000 feet I watched an eagle soaring around me…
In 1992, we travelled by train to Manali where we picked up a jeep that was to take us over the mountains to Leh. We were already at altitude so we took a couple of days to acclimatise and then we set off through this barren landscape…
The concept for the garden was strengthened that summer when I visited Eheiji a Soto Zen Buddhist monastery (Temple of Eternal Peace) in the western alps of Japan…
In 1996 I re-visited one of the most famous and inspiring gardens in Japan, The Daisen In Shoin temple garden at Daitoku-ji Monastery, Kyoto. I arranged to sit with the Abbot one morning on the meditation platform beside the garden…
During our trip to Japan we were lucky enough to be escorted around Kyoto by an old friend of my uncle Stan, Mr Sumitomo. He took us to visit his family home which was a fabulous traditional Japanese house…
It seems that everyone is talking about mindfulness and wellbeing these days. Not surprising after 10 years of austerity. Perhaps it is a good sign that people want to put it all behind them and be more positive…
When I get a Trip Advisor review of the garden that claims that my garden is average and that I have weeds in the garden, I realise how much we all have a different view of gardening…
