News
Flowers Start Blooming on the Japanese Andromedas
Partly because it has been a little warmer than usual this year, these little white buds have been blooming early, one after another. When so many flowers bloom that they hang downward, then we can enjoy their faintly sweet fragrance along the maple grove’s garden path.
Chanoyu Lecture Series, No. 4
On the afternoon of February 2 (Sun.), we held another lecture in our chanoyu lecture series. This time, our theme was “tea flowers” (chabana). We discussed the history of tea flowers and then had participants arrange tea flowers themselves. Everyone enjoyed arranging the flowers as they learned how to choose them and also about “forbidden flowers” (kinka).
Murin-an Wild Bird Mini-lecture
On the afternoon of January 8 (Wed.), we held a wild bird mini-lecture on the 8-tatami mat space on the main house’s first floor. We discussed the traits of the Falcated Duck, a winter migratory bird whose males wear decorative feathers when courting females. There were many points that drew people’s attention today, from the connection between Napoleon’s hat and the heads of these ducks, to the three types of feathers that they use to fly. At the end of the lecture, we handed out print-outs showing how to tell apart the ducks seen at Murin-an and in the surrounding area.
Tending to the Red Pine in Front of Murin-an’s Tearoom
We tended to Murin-an’s second largest red pine (akamatsu). After pruning and plucking needles from the red pine growing on the northeast side of the tearoom, there’s now a bright view that goes all the way back to the garden’s lawn and central area.
Murin-an Tea School
On January 3 and 4 (Fri. and Sat.), we held tea ceremony lessons on the second floor of Murin-an’s main house. Here are some pictures of our students welcoming the new year with the instructor. After exchanging New Year’s greetings, they began step-by-step lesson instruction. In accordance with the season, their conversation included a discussion of the New Year’s tea reception (known as “hatsugama,” meaning “first kettle”) which was enjoyed by all.
Ringing in the New Year with the Year’s First Visit to Murin-an
For three days after New Year’s, our garden experts held special explanations describing in easily understood language the garden’s highlights, history and how to appreciate it. There were even some moments where participants showed great interest in how Murin-an’s original owner, Duke Yamagata Aritomo, rang in the new year. On each day, we prepared “scent gardens” to allow people to viscerally experience the garden’s spatial composition. They listened to the discussion while relaxing at a Japanese garden.
Tending to the Rabbit-ear Irises
The rabbit-ear irises that thrill us with their indigo colors in May are now in their dormant period. Since their leaves have now lost their color too, we removed them. All that remains now is their stumps, which have grown larger underwater; the preparation to sprout new yellow-green buds for spring has begun. Until that time comes, they look almost as though they are listening to the light rhythm of the cascade while fast asleep.
We’ve decked Murin-an with fresh bamboo.
To greet the new year, we changed Murin-an’s bamboo, which had turned a light brown. We bound the bamboo used for Murin-an’s concave screens (known as “inuyarai”) and its well cover and barrier fences with hemp-palm rope (or “shuro nawa”). Almost of all of this rope was handmade by Murin-an’s head gardener. Its green pipes and notches are now readily visible and bring a fresh new feeling of green to the garden.
Murin-an Tea School
On December 27 and 28 (Fri. and Sat.), we held our final tea ceremony lessons for the year. Just like last week, we finished off with lessons in the tea ceremony seated at a table (ryurei-dana). Here are some pictures of students reviewing right down to the details under the direction of their instructor, while also sometimes enjoying the convivial atmosphere.
A Pair of Eastern Spot-billed Ducks
As these still and quiet days continue, there are now eastern spot-billed ducks that fly to Murin-an as a rest stop. They’re usually here in the early morning, but today they were also here lazily taking their time in the afternoon. They always moved in pairs and you could sometimes see them looking for food too. These ducks’ characteristics are their yellow beak tips that stick out on both males and females. Since female ducks often look alike, this is one way of telling an eastern spot-billed duck apart.