In November of 2022, Pete Putnicki, Seattle Japanese Garden Senior Gardener, toured Japanese gardens across Japan. The tour was hosted by the North American Japanese Garden Association (NAJGA) and was joined by garden professionals from public Japanese gardens from seven states. This is a diary of the trip by Pete himself.

The Showy, Bright Red Fruits of Aucuba japonica ‘Rozannie’ Remain on the Plant from Fall until the Following Spring

Planted in the Seattle Japanese Garden in 2021, Aucuba japonica ‘Rozannie’ is a compact female cultivar of this evergreen shrub native to Japan. Its bright red, berry-like fruits persist until the following spring.

Empress Tree Blooms in Late Spring with Large, Pale Purple Foxglove-like Flowers

Paulownia tomentosa is a fast-growing deciduous tree with showy flowers and a long history in Asian folklore, tradition, and medicine. Its common names include empress tree, princess tree, royal paulownia, and foxglove tree.

Planted Just Past the Garden’s Entry Gate, This Weeping Laceleaf Japanese Maple is an Iconic Beauty in Every Season

This very old specimen tree is beloved by Garden Guides and visitors alike. And each year, its health and beauty are maintained and enhanced by Senior Gardener Peter Putnicki’s skillful pruning. Located prominently in Area B, brings beauty, gracefulness, movement, and dynamic change to the Garden.

The Seattle Japanese Garden Then & Now | Part II: The Conifers

Culturally and aesthetically significant, conifers are an integral part of the Japanese Garden. They bring a feeling of age and stability and help define areas in the garden that refer to natural landscapes of Japan, such as open woodlands, forested mountains, wooded hills and islands, and wind-swept shores.

Juki Iida included existing native conifers in his landscaping. Some remain, and he selections of conifers since the garden’s first decade have been inspired by Juki’s Iida’s design and vision for the Japanese Garden.

Thujopsis dolabrata: An Uncommon Conifer with Bold, Shiny Green Foliage, Silvery-white Underneath

The thick, overlapping scales of hiba arborvitae foliage resemble the scales of a lizard, and lizard tree is another one of its common names.

In the Garden, Plants and BloomsCorinne KennedySeptember 23, 2020Japanese Garden, Trees

Staying Grounded: A Stroll Through the Seattle Japanese Garden

Our senior gardener, Pete Putnicki, created the garden video in order to help us keep staying grounded and to showcase us how the garden has been doing. Enjoy the Seattle Japanese Garden from your home!

From Home, In the GardenYukari YamanoMay 16, 2020Japanese Garden, Wisteria, garden tour

Candling: The Art of Japanese Pine Pruning

You may notice at this time of year pine trees are covered with prominent upright buds at the branch tips. These are called candles, and they are the spring growth of the tree.

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