Oosoji (大掃除), Japanese Big Year-End-Cleaning

In December, the Japanese conduct a year-end-cleaning. They clean houses, schools, offices and public spaces to prepare for the coming New Year. It is called Oosouji (大掃除), which literally means “Big Cleaning.”

Japanese CultureYukari YamanoDecember 9, 2022year end cleaning, cleaning, Japanese cleaning, oosoji, susuharai

A Diary of My Japan Study Tour

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 Essential Reading List for 2022

Called 読書の秋 (dokusho no aki) in Japanese, the colder days and longer nights of fall beckon us to read. Blog contributor Corinne Kennedy has compiled an eclectic list of fourteen titles, including ten books for children and teens.

Fall, From Home, Japanese CultureCorinne KennedyNovember 17, 2022fall, books, Japanese culture

Camellia oleifera is a Cold-hardy Species with Fragrant White Flowers in Autumn

Camellia oleifera is a very cold-hardy species with fragrant white flowers in autumn. Its seeds are an important source of a high-temperature cooking oil used primarily in Asian countries.

Fall, In the Garden, Japanese Culture, Plants and BloomsCorinne KennedyOctober 27, 2022Camellia, Japanese culture, Winter, fall

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.

Satsuki Evergreen Azaleas Extend the Blooming Season of the Genus Rhododendron

With their elegant late May and June flowers, Satsuki evergreen azaleas extend the blooming season of the genus Rhododendron from late winter into early summer.

In the Garden, Japanese Culture, Plants and Blooms, SpringCorinne KennedyJune 28, 2022bloom, Azalea, Rhododendron

Irises, the Zig-Zag Bridge, and The Tales of Ise

Japanese irises start blooming in June, coinciding with the time that rice seedlings are planted in Japan. Three species are native to that country—Iris ensata, I. laevigata, and I. sanguinea—and traditionally, many Japanese farmers planted irises near their rice fields and used them as signal plants. Nowadays, Japanese enjoy many wild and cultivated irises throughout the landscape in the late spring.

Japanese CultureYukari YamanoJune 1, 2022Iris, tale of ise, yatsuhashi, zig zag bridge

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.