I did it. I hit the road in early October, bound for Seattle. After months of being at home it was invigorating, and a little unnerving. I needed to visit a friend and decided to make a two-day affair out of the trip, leaving early on a Friday morning, spending the night, and heading back on Saturday. Since my hotel was just minutes from Kubota Garden I got up early-ish on Saturday morning and walked the garden.
This was only my second visit to the garden, the previous was in 2013 and a few weeks later in the season (see that post here, learn more about the garden's history here), so the fall colors were a little more vibrant then. Not that this visit wasn't lovely too...Not being much of a conifer fan I was surprised how much I wanted to bring both of these home with me and replant them together in my garden. I think the green on the right is a Cryptomeria japonica 'Spiralis', but I have no idea what the blue is.
This is going to be a pretty photo-heavy post, so I'm going to try to keep the commentary to a minimum so you can just enjoy the photos...(note I said try, I'm not promising anything)
That's a second (larger) red bridge. A photographer was holding portrait sessions on the bridge which made it virtually impossible for anyone else to get near.
This is the end, of my visit. If you're up in the Seattle area I definitely recommend you stop by the garden. I have a few other stops to share from this trip. Gardens and nurseries made for a few COVID-safe stops.
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This post made my day! I can't believe I've never been to this garden. It's now on top of my list. The Cryptomeria... possibly 'Little Diamond' or 'Globosa Nana'?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the names, and yes....go!
DeleteWhen I was at an editorial writers conference in Seattle in 2000, Mark went to Kubota by himself while I was busy. It is probably the only garden in the area that I never got to see. As a conifer lover, this is a fabulous post. I was drooling left and right.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you'll come out for the Seattle-area Fling and visit?
DeleteI think I once visited this park in 1988 while visiting my BIL who lived on Bainbridge. The red bridge I remember, but of course, everything else has grown and changed. They have a beautiful collection!
ReplyDeleteIt has changed a lot since I was there in 2013, I can't imagine how much it would have changed since 1988!
DeleteNice looking garden.
ReplyDeleteIt looks very green up there, how much more rainfall do they get compared to you?
Quite a bit of moss on the trees and rocks. The last shot is cool :)
Our summer rainfall totals are pretty similar. Of course the evergreens are, well, evergreen... and the lawn is irrigated. If I were to compare to our Japanese garden I'd say they are similar in "greeness".
DeleteWhat a fabulous garden! I am a sucker for conifers, so this is right up my alley. Thanks for the grand tour.
ReplyDeleterickii
Be sure to visit if you find yourself up that way!
DeleteI love Kubota Garden (and conifers. A lot). I've visited it many times and find it very inspiring and peaceful. It puts on a very different show one season to the next. Once I saw the garden when it was cover in a foot of snow! Those red bridges looked stunning: the only splash of color in a field of whiteness.
ReplyDeleteThe last photo in this post is very unusual. Is it also from Kubota?
Wow, yes, that snow shot would be cool! Yes, I was headed back to the entrance on a secondary pathway when I took that last photo.
DeleteAbsolutely beautiful. The pond was spectacular and I even loved the red bridge, which isn't something I generally care for. I'm glad you were able to escape the tedium that came with the pandemic too.
ReplyDeleteThe trip was so needed. Of course I was super paranoid most of the time, washing my hands every second.
DeleteKubota is one of my favorite places, and we're lucky enough to live not far away. This fall, the colors just aren't as bright, perhaps from drought stress. Kubota Garden is lovely, regardless.
ReplyDeleteAt least here in Portland I know some of our lack of color this year was due to overnight temperatures staying warm.
Deletethe PNW is so lucky with the number and variety of conifers that can be grown there. Always a serene landscape especially on overcast Fall days. The photo of the yellow shrub with the Ajuga 'Black Scallop' is a gorgeous pairing.
ReplyDelete