Christian - I - & I'm sure Henrik - look forward to seeing your next one. I've noticed wide variations in the sort of pebbles or gravel used in tsukubais. I've gone for rounded, big-fist-sized gravel because it's much less trouble to work on when it's time to remove dead leaves & debris, but I agree with you that in Henrik's situation, the small pebbles look a lot better than gravel. As to the lantern, I doubt very much that Henrik would want to order one from North America! Mailing costs to Europe are so high that they can often be more than the value of the package itself - unless, perhaps it contains a concrete or Hypertufa object of the sort advertised on some websites - usually in California - with prices so stupendous that they take your breath away. If anybody wants a simple little lantern like the one in the picture, I feel sure he could make one - there are some pictures in my album at Pbase that give the general idea of how to do it. Herb Click here

Gerald, /Henrik, cedars for hedges or mountain trees (sugi), Techny - or Wares (wareana) maples for landscape, Tatarica, Ginnalian, Douglas Rhodo's/azalea's, Scandinavian strain Zone 1, blues, reds, oranges, yellows, there is of course PJM lilac shades. Pine, nigra & sylvestris-French Blue recommended, Mountain pine- P. uncinata, Mugo of course, Jack pine, Lodgepole and crosses (monticola) 5 needle's - albicaulis or flexilis. Spruce if one learns how to cut them... Birch, youngii, --birch is not often used, though birch can replace the weeping maple in thought and texture, next to the dwarf, Trosts dwarf, extremely cut-leaf. Crabapples abound in many colors, white to magenta Pears, apricots, plums, --trilobas = Rose Tree of China Fernleaf caragana -Sutherland, Mountain Ash, 7 varieties 3 shapes Japanese tree lilac & cultivars Aspen replaces Katsura Celtis occidentalis, Sumac, Cork Tree (amurense), etc. etc. were I /Henrik I would ask which landscape, - where,.. appeals and use a 3 level planting so that different 'sense's' of tree come out as 'cloud' or as 'green mountain chasms with cherries blooming', as long as his upper canopies gently arc with the insides adding the drama he seeks... edzard

Thank you Christian - I'm not sure whether you remember, but this was built as a memorial garden to a beloved pet who passed away suddenly after 15 yrs. There is a sweet story about the 'Rainbow Bridge' for grieving pet owners, and so, at the time, I wanted to include that bridge as an integral part of the composition. The dimensions of the tray are 2' x 4' x 1.75" You are quite right, Herb. All those photos are really just about the passage of time. The intrinsic composition never changes . . and as for the 3 mths... I tend to be a bit retentive and overly fuss with everything :) Jack

Hiya! Actually, I was thinking about designing a "japanese" fence and a "japanese" gate (with a small roof). It is the brown thingie between the garage and house. I will then plant a wisteria and make it grow on the fence... What I badly need advice on is if and where I need to plant shrubs on the open area where there is a ? and only stone. kind regards Henrik ps Please use this pic, and add your plants/suggestions in paint and email it to me! Its much easier to understand when looking at a picture. My email is MrNorth25@yahoo.se ds