Lakeside with Lingering Snow, our second in a series of plantings from Toshio Kawamoto’s Saikei classic. The trees are the same (cryptomeria) as in our last post (A Deep Ravine in a Shallow Pot), the pot is almost the same and the landscape is similar, though this one is softer. The focal point, the large single mountain stone that elevates the planting from good to extraordinary is enhanced by a little touch of snow. The author doesn’t say what the snow is and it’s hard to tell from the photo. It would be ideal if it were simply part of the rock.
Thought we might as well continue our series on Toshio Kawamoto’s remarkable book, Saikei, Living Landscapes in Miniature. We first ran this series back in January 2010, and now, because I’m still out of town and can’t seem to find time to put together new posts, why not give it another go?
An invitation
The purpose of this section is to show how to create lakeside saikei. In fact, if you look at the drawings throughout the book it’s almost as if the author is inviting you to duplicate his work. If you don’t have the book, don’t worry, we’ll be posting photos and the drawings. Meanwhile you’ve got two to go on (deep ravine and this one).
Front schemata. The pot is 26″ x 13″ (66cm x 33cm) unglazed oval by Tokoname. There are 27 cryptomeria that range from 2.5″ to 4.5″ (6cm to 11.5cm) tall. The soil is regular bonsai soil (he doesn’t say which regular bonsai soil, but the Japanese almost always use akadama or an akadama mix for conifers). The other materials are peat (it’s unclear how he uses it, see below), green moss and black river pebbles (the lake).
Bird’s eye view. The lake (or piece of it) is off center which helps create a natural, uncontrived feel. The landscape is soft and inviting. This softness is enhanced by the way the hills and the rock flow into each other (the photo and front schemata show this best). The small size of the trees (much smaller than the deep ravine saikei) and the way they sort of sink into the land, further enhances this easy, peaceful, almost feminine feel. Altogether it looks like a place where you might like spend some time. Just relaxing and enjoying the view and feel of the land, and the soft breezes off the lake. You might even go for a swim.
Make my day
If you want to try one and send a photo, it just might make my day. If you don’t want to do that (and most of you won’t), at least you can post a comment. Otherwise, this job can seem a bit like…. (you can insert a good Texas down home expression here that conveys something like shooting in the dark).
…except you won’t get wet. Lovely landscape, though probably a 2-person transport project (having donated a Tokoname pot that same size after struggling whenever it had to be moved).
How to create that look at half that size?
I love your posts and buy a lot from stone lantern, because of them. I read from from a blog reader so I rarely post comments. I’m from Texas and we never shoot from the dark so I don’t have an expression for you :)
Hi Judy,
Half the size would be tricky, but possible. Tiny trees, smaller stone and a steady hand.
Jeremy,
I mentioned Texas because I have dear Texan friend who is overflowing with colorful expressions. One of her favorites, when referring to someone who is particularly clueless (on occasion yours truly) is… (don’t read any further if you are particularly sensitive to graphic speech)… ‘he couldn’t find his ass with both hands’ I’m not sure if her strong Texas twang is necessary, but it sure helps.
Problem with these plantings is the quality of the rocks is in the “almost inaccessible” category. I think the planting should show the reason the rock is there, and too many of the rock plantings I see done in this country are over just any old rock because the owner wanted a root over rock. I have even seen workshops offered using rounded river cobbles. Pitiful!
The rock should offer a sense of landscape. Dave Snyder’s microenvironments are almost the sole example of American stuff where this is successful. Yes, that is a dare!
Hi again Terry and yes again.
Anyone one know a good source for quality stones?