Hi Scott It is perfectly ok to have defferent opinion and we don't have to pull gun each other :):):) Quote #1 :no matter what sect he was............. I think "sect" has lot's to do with Japanese garden history and gardens. for example Nichiren shu has nothing to do with garden, Jodo shu, jodo shin shu as sect it's self, do not have deep relation associte to Japnese garden . Doctrin or sutra of Jodo has deep conection to Japanese Garden however. jodo shu line of "Ji shu" has lot's to do with Muromachi era of Japanese garden design and constraction /building. It is historical fact. not my imagination nor guessing. I have studied life of Nichren shonin of Nichiren shu, Honen shonin of Jodo shu, Shinran shonin of Jodoshin shu. It is possible that I did not read enough books/ or did not serched enough informations. I may have to change my story later Name of Muso soseki : he has few names. one is Muso Kokushi. Title of "Kokushi: is only given from Emporo.It means " Teacher of the country " Azana is "Muso" Azana meaens other name of birth name /true name of man (men) . (woman canot have Azana) also name of Muso is literally " Dream window" one other name of his" Go " is Chiei his "imina " is Sosheki " imina is dead person's real name" imina is is use only after a person's death. while he is live "Na " or miyo is uesd . mening of kanji of "So" is , not familer with. do not know well, less relation . "seki" is stone, stone can be samll, or boulder in Japanese language. Information source: "Zoen dijiten" by Dr Keiji Uehara, Kashima shoten/ publisher " Shin Jigen " , . Kadokawa shoten /publisher. "Kadokawa kokugo jiten" "Kokugo jiten " Kadokawa shoten/ publisher . when temple 's location is serched, location of temples are a way form civilzation most time . most time temple as monastery it located in midle of no where, in midle of moutain. at time of Muso kokushi, there were no loging company nor chain saw . also temples are given large piece of land, surunding temples... when garden of temple was build, I don't think garden desgner of temple garden , He did not have shakukei concept. it was there. Ippen shonin (1238~ 1289) Muso kokushi (1275~1351 ) I have to think time of jishu monks activity and Moso kokushi's time. similer to Sen no rikyu, Sen no rikryo was not originated tea seceremony. He had his master Murano shoo, Murano shoo had his master Murata Juko, Murata Juko also had his master. when Muso kokushi designed garden of karesansui , there should be incubation time of karesansui concept. There is word of karesansui in Sakuteiki , oldest book of Japanese garden we know now, the book is written 200~ 300 years earlyer than Muso kokushi's era ..... leaning and reaing sutra of Jodo doctrine , I am beging to think that karesansui have something to do with precept of "not kill all being" if garden has many trees, shurbs, plant it will attract insects which feed on tees shurbs, plants of the garden. if fewer trees shurbs ,plants monk don't have to kill insects. There are many trees, shubs, plants are out side of garens insect can feed on. Scott: I am not trying to "beat you" or correct informations you have . In the past , we had some inacurate information of sen no rikyu and other topics. I saw some garden writer went to Japan for short time and writ about Zen garden of Jodo shu temples, or saying "Buddhism is nothing to do with Japanese garden" and writeing on big news paper. Those wrong informations are telling our culture incorrectly to others/westners. It is bother me geat deal. when you write/posting your differed oinion from mine, I am not writeing to you but also to many others. I am a gardener. not resercher nor scholar . I have never intended to write here as resercher or scholar. since I have many Japanse garden related books on my hand, if I can find information from collection of my book, I want to share with you . what I write is not my knowlege.It is informations of past, information of reserchers or scholars I am just good at to find inforamtions I need to study my self or to share information with others. Right after world war two, one of low ranking Japanese solder was senteced die by hanging in the name of military court. He is punished to fed tree roots to prisoners of war. he fed budock to prisoner of war. not tree roots, many prisoners never ate budock before . if any of military court Judges knew differnce between budock as vegetable or tree roots, his life may be spaired. Any thing could happen if we do not know each other's culture correctly. I could write only to you sending by e mail. It took me hours to write this posting. I only have 3 th or 4 th grade Engilish ability. if any of Japanese who can write better English and respond to your question or any one's questions correctly , I am happy to retire from garden web and just read it and enjoy it. Please understand my intention of responding to your posting. It is same to Edzard, Herb, evelyn, Inky or any one else. I am more than happy to send you copy of any of information source I have, if you are intrested. I may not able to translate, but you can send it to your bother. :) :) :) I know myself some time my writeing is blunt. while I have English/Japanese , Japanese/Engish dictionary, this time I have 4 dictionaries be side me to write this posting. useing fewer English vocaburly ,some time I can not find enough proper words to write correctly. Being your freind, I can gain something , Being enemy I loose many things . .......mike

I love questions such as this. They allow me to research and revisit the work of such talentented designers as Lutyens. My thoughts on your questions: 1. I find many references to Lutyens returning to former houses he designed and working on the landscapes, including the addition of a Japanese garden in some situations. He is credited with the ability ..."to build in a style that combined the best of the east and the west". He is also known to have a love of paradox...contrary to common sense. Plus, estates of that period had many types of gardens and it is not uncommon practice. So...if you are in the hands of a good LA well grounded with Lutyens and his brilliant career the addition of a Japanese garden should be acceptable. 2. You are fortunate to obtain the old marble parts to construct an herb garden. Your planned use arranging them into a formal shape works. Too bad that you could not also purchase the marble urn. Somewhere the right urn or statue lurks to replace it. With some searching you will know it when you see it. I am surprised that your LA has not given you guidance on planting an herb garden. Usually they were bordered with a low, neatly trimmed boxwood hedge and planted with culinary herbs and flowers. Lots on on-line information to aid your selections. 3. There is a Hydrangea Forum here on GW with many knowledgeable gardeners posting. Suggest asking this question there where you should find all sorts of suggestions and advice.

No I don't understand your comment ...and I don't understand your point....I think the same situation applies no matter where you are from and I found your comment disrespectful to the many many southern girls ( and men) on this board. I have lived in many different sections of this country and never found any of the local ethnic or regional that were offensive.... I came back to apologize for my statement because I was just being snarky at your comment and actually have learned to appreciate all the different "regional and ethnic" differences in this country and certainly wouldn't call them mangled and unintelligible.

It is a pipe to tubing connector(a bushing, while it may look similar, is used to connect 2 pipes of different size). The tubing end is a compression fitting. The link above should get you to a location to purchase online. You should be able to find it locally, however.