L EVE L UP Y OUR GARDEN WI T H I NS P I RA T I ON F ROM J APAN
WHAT DOES A JAPANESE GARDEN LOOK LIKE?
Hey, folks, it’s Kevin here! For the last several months, I’ve been staring out of my window at my small, muddy backyard, just imagining a different view. I’d love to whip that narrow tract into shape this spring and turn it into a Japanese garden.
My favorite Japanese gardens are famous for their water features, usually including ponds, streams, and waterfalls. Sometimes you can spot koi fish swimming in those ponds. Wandering paths,
wells, gateways, stone lanterns, bridges, and arrangements of “guardian stones” are common characteristics, too. When it comes to plants, there aren’t usually a lot of flowers in a Japanese garden. Ornamental
I’ve been interested in that style of gardening for a few months now, and with the weather warming up, it might be time to make my dream a reality. I’d love to bring you along for the ride! If your yard is in rough shape and could use a refresh, consider taking some inspiration from Japan.
grasses and dwarf evergreens are the foundation of the garden, along with
bamboo and Japanese maple trees. Peonies, chrysanthemums, and Japanese water iris are a few exceptions to the rule.
WHAT IS JAPANESE GARDENING? For the last 1,300 years, gardeners in Japan have cultivated a specific aesthetic in their spaces that is inspired by Buddhist, Shinto, and Taoist beliefs. Their decorative gardens balance seasonality with minimalism, high-quality materials, subtle florals, and careful proportions. There are many different types of Japanese gardens, but they usually fall into two categories: tsuki-yama (“artificial hills”) or hira-niwa (“level ground”). Both are beautiful, calm, and restrained. In the last 150 years, this garden style has become popular outside of Asia, too.
HOW CAN YOU GET STARTED? To get inspired and see which Japanese garden plants grow here in Richmond, you can visit the Maymont Japanese Garden. It’s actually the oldest public Japanese garden on the East Coast and was designed by a Japanese garden master. You can also check out resources online like JapaneseGardening.org and FineGardening.com.
SUDOKU
SPRING VEGETABLE AND CHICKEN PASTA BAKE
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
• •
1 cup cooked chicken, diced
1. Preheat oven to 425 F and grease an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In the prepared dish, stir together cooked chicken, artichokes, asparagus, carrots, uncooked pasta, chicken broth, half the chives, half the parsley, garlic, salt, and 2 tbsp Parmesan. 3. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. 4. Uncover and stir. At this point, check the pasta to make sure it is al dente. If it’s undercooked, cover the dish and return to the oven until pasta is tender. 5. Remove from oven and garnish with remaining Parmesan, chives, and parsley.
1 14-oz can artichokes, drained and quartered
• • •
1 cup fresh asparagus pieces 1/2 cup carrots, grated 1 1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta 1 3/4 cups chicken broth 1/2 cup fresh chives, chopped and divided
• •
SOLUT ION
•
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped and divided 2 tsp minced garlic
• • •
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Inspired by TheSeasonedMom.com
www.MottleyLawFirm.com | 3
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker