patjonking,... - :), being in the west with the Alberta Clipper on our side, we seem to be free of circumglobal winds,.. at least for now, rarely noticing what goes on elsewhere, even though we are intensely curious... I find it interesting that you feel I am endorsing Makita. I'm not. I am going back to the original question and commenting on what I think of the garden while providing a counterbalance to painting someone with a scent. Even though I may care little for a gardener, their gardens may be admirable. I'm not interested in personality, personal reputation, etal... perhaps if I had to deal with them, then I would care.. At the moment I don't. there is a time in everyones garden growth and also apparent in bonsai circles, 'when people do not know that they don't know anything' (in Fred Miyahara's words) in which they are nigh unto unbearable, and this is normal. I also think that in this area, most people change, grow and become more understanding as their understanding grows of the garden (or bonsai). As I am myself, thankful daily for Jim Lewis' considerable admonitions of 'hit think before hitting send'. Given patient conditions, people change and become very enjoyable as they grow with their gardens. -imho, the garden still teaches. - I am endorsing the need and use of color in the garden, considering peoples need for 'their expression' in gardens, a need for an uplifting in spirit for people which may be achieved by use of color in the garden (as one solution). I do not know if that was Makita's intent with his garden, yet would give the benefit of doubt based on what I see. Perhaps the client was particularily difficult. I don't knw, and so can not have a definitive opinion about Makita's garden. I can, however undertake to try to understand what I see. I also appreciate restraint and 'when to stop' as a marker of someone that may be bearable to converse with about gardens. (and continually bear in mind that since I run on and on and on, with seeming lack of restraint, trying to share more than perhaps necessary, that I might just be unbearable to coverse with as well) All the while, hoping to emphasize as well that historically perennials were not often used for color in the standard issues of period gardens excepting the nunnery gardens and the Heien. And that most shrubs used in the Japanese garden flower at one time or another, or have dramatic colouration of leaves, that would conclude that there is more color in gardens than we expect, if we based decisions on pictures alone. And that color may be a necessary evil in the garden if all we focus on is the structure, and continually only view gardens stereotypically as the scroll paintings, in which green should be viewed as the white space in our painting logic. Which is where I was hoping the conversation would go rather than painting negative brush strokes as a main themology, I gather then that Virginia is still a tight knit community... those are good people to mention... edzard

I think this is a really fabulous idea. My former acupuncturist's waiting and treatment rooms were just dreadful. I was only a patient for about a year but every time I went in, I was aching to suggest a few changes. I would have even painted the place myself...it was that bad! He moved away, ostensibly because there was not enough business here. I can't help but think the grotesque rooms made a difference in how people felt being there. Do you have any way to present a Gift Certificate of sorts for your professional services? Handing them something with a note attached about how grateful you are and how you want to give back... They would likely interpret that as a generous offer, rather than a friendly critique. I'd hand them the note and then disappear so they don't have to react in front of you...that can be difficult for some people. Or, you could start small with the plant "shares" and see what kind of response you get. If they later say how much they enjoy the plants, perhaps you can go on to suggest the benefit of some additional changes. I'll be eager to hear how it goes. There are so many places where I feel the colors need to be tweaked (like my dentist's office, decorated in a lovely shade of puss green!) and I'd love to just offer a bit of advice without being offensive. Oh, and I'm curious to know where you studied Feng Shui. Thanks! - Amy

Emagineer, that is probably a crystal star? And when we got married in 2006, I gave each of the granddaughters, nieces, and their mamas the 2005 Swarovski crystal star Christmas ornament as a memory. Every year since then, I give them the current star from Swarovski as one of their Christmas presents. By the time they are grownup, they'll be able to decorate their whole Christmas tree or a window year round. It helps that we only have seven granddaughters/grandnieces and 4 mamas, and then I get one so it is a dozen stars total that we get. I also gave one to my brother, and he has it suspended from his rear view mirror in his Mustang. It is for the light show that I get them, not for any supernatural powers. I've looked online for the rain chains too. I think a copper one would be lovely, aging to that nice verdigris over time. I do not have the rain gutters. I've wondered how to suspend the chains where they will keep the rain from tearing up the flower beds beneath. I have a link somewhere and will look for it. Reasonable prices for an 8' chain, with option to add links to make it longer. In Costa Rica, they used regular old chain at the rooflines of the resort where we honeymooned. Then a splash block at the bottom. They get serious rain there, and these chains were two stories long...about 20 feet? If you have a plastic linked chain, why not try it first before you buy something? A weight at the bottom would keep it in place.

Stunning! You did some incredible work. We love seeing stone in Japanese zen gardens - we work with a great garden designer in San Diego and love seeing what he creates as well. Here are his tips for doing one in SoCal for anyone interested: https://www.southwestboulder.com/blog/how-to-make-a-japanese-zen-garden-in-southern-california