Ron;

That is a good question..... not a lot out there condensed in a single format. From using the hood of a 74 Dodge Dart to move big stones to make your own tripod ladder out of hickory. Lining holes with carpet scraps before putting in the liner to cloud pruning black pines. Most of that knowledge is "trial by fire" and passed to others orally.

In the past, there has been talk about some of the professionals on this board putting together something.

To keep this rolling, what would you want to be included in this book??? Stones?, plants?, how to tie knots and make fences?, pond construction?

In my mind, it would be very difficult to put this all in one volume.

Michael

try Japanese Gardening Hints, by Saito...
edzard

I think the "blood sweat and tears" (you forgot the "blood" Ron!) will come from attempting to put what you learn from a book into practice rather than directly from the book. If you know what you want to do with a rock before you attempt to move it, the placing will be easier (not easy) than started off without a plan. I think a lot of books have illustrations or diagrams on building structures but you need the skill in your hands if you want to turn these into reality. This part of Japanese Gardening is physical rather than mental and you will have to learn by doing I fear.

I recommend the Journal of Japanese Gardening. It's got hands-on details you can't find anywhere else, as well as commentary by foreign experts who have trained here.

Edzard, I will try to look for Japanese Gardening Hints by Saito. Thank you.

Archer, which number(s) of the Journal of Japanese Gardens do you recommend ?

INKognito and Michael, I know that such practices normally go orally, and one learns by practising, not reading. IÂm not looking for help right now, but I just wonder whether such books exist.

Another aspect I really miss in most books about JG is the evolution of the gardens.

In summary, I look for books which can be titled "A Tribute to the Workers", not to the garden designers.

Ron. A book that i found was very informative regarding the evolution of the Japanese garden is:
The World of the Japanese Garden by L. Kuck
another informative book:
The Japanese House by Heinrich Engel

(i'm a newbie in this forum)

Welcome Mr Miagi, I read your information on My Page and wondered if you solved your thread algae problem. I got help from the pond forum and use hydrogen peroxide from the drug store. The only problem is you have to treat once a week. Also clean up algae while it is alive then treat. It is a booger to clean up after you kill it. I have a stream and weekly treatment seems to keep it clean, but miss a week and you are in trouble. It boosts the oxygen level in the water killing the algae but has not harmed the fish or birds.

Sorry to stray from your post Ron.

Cheers Jando

I'm not impressed with L. Kuck's book. It's filled with myths and superstition, and very far indeed from the "sweat and tears" approach.

Gee, "Chris74Robinson" --- your opinion precisely matches the view of JOJG. Isn't that interesting?

I think Loraine Kuck's book contains a wealth of information and a small amount of slanted information. Her misconceptions are explained very well and fairly in Wybe Kuitert's book, Themes in the History of Japanese Garden Art. According to Mr. Kuitert, Ms. Kuck was apparently unduly influenced in her ideas about "Zen" gardens by a small group of Japanese people, and she failed to understand the political implications of what she was being told.

By the way, "Chris74Robinson" --- it's considered bad editorial policy to trash authors who are dead (like Loraine Kuck) and cannot rebut your criticisms. That's one of the reasons its a good idea to be specific and tactful about your criticisms.

Lee

Samuel Newsom's "Japanese Garden Construction" has lots of great tips, lots of blocks of ancient woodcuts (interesting)and an amazing photo-sequence of a group of niwashi moving a 18" caliper pine across a temple yard, The balling technique is incredibly precise and craftsman-like; enough to make you give up burlap. Not exactly the tome you were looking for, but a great book...

Oh, I see. From now on books like "Mein Kampf" and "The Communist Manifesto" get a free pass because the authors are dead. Journalists and school teachers around the world shouldn't say anything negative about any book if the author is dead. According to you that's "bad editorial policy."

That's a bunch of bull.

It's also interesting to note that you think it's ok for YOU to say things like "Kuck's book had some slanted information" and "Kuck was unduly influenced" but it's not ok for me to say such things.

If you're going to go around preaching about editorial policy, you ought to at least honor your own sermons. As for me, I'm going to continue to say whatever I want to say. I think Kuck's book is filled with myth and superstition. I don't recommend it to anyone.

Doug (& Tamao) ---

Your extreme thinking is evident once again. It is what I object to in your approach to Japanese gardening and in your editorial policy at the magazine.

If you reread my post you'll see that I didn't say you should never criticize the works of dead authors. I said that it is good editorial policy to be specific and tactful when you do it.

Your editorial policy has always reflected brilliantly your belief that it's your right to say whatever the heck you want to say about anyone and anything.

And it is truly your right to do so.

It continues to strike me as odd, however, that you complain so bitterly about the lagging rate of subscriptions to your magazine, when you repeatedly condemn all attempts by everyone to explain how you might make the magazine more moderate (tactful) and palatable to its readers.

The policy of manufacturing experts and punishing true experts for failing to subscribe and for voicing views with which you disagree also strikes me as counter-productive to increasing subscriptions.

But I guess it's more important to you to have your say than to promote the appreciation of Japanese gardening and to see your magazine succeed.

Lee

As a member of 3 local gardening clubs with specific interest in Japanese gardening and culture, I follow this and other Japanese gardening forums for information and peer support. Within our gardening community we have noticed and discussed the increasing disruptiveness and hostility from posters who support the JOJG. This concerns us greatly and there have been many people in my circle who have decided not to renew their subscriptions to the JOJG. The Japanese culture is one of respect and honor and the behaviours of some of these posters in the past 6 months on this forum are not a reflection of the spirit of Japanese gardening.

Andrea

I don't give a hoot who you think I am. I also don't care whether you do, or do not, read JOJG.

As for me, I'm always happy with the opinions that I read in that magazine. To me, they are a voice of reason, while the rest of the fruit loops are out there in their "Zen Garden" loony land.

As for books about sweat and tears, "The Magic of Trees and Stones" is always a pretty good choice.