HI friends,
We have experienced
intense summer heat this year, but it changes radically from intense heat to
cool rainy days and this has continued over the last ten days in Yokohama. As I
mentioned several times before, Australian plants have become popular over
the last ten years in Japan. At the same time, Australian bricks have spread as
a gardening material, too. About ten years ago, in Japan, Australian bricks
cost 500 yen per piece, but in recent times they cost only 100 yen in a home centre.
Therefore people are willingly using Australian brick as a gardening material.
About thirteen yeas ago,
when I stated to make my garden, I used Australian bricks for the paving stones
of the terrace and the stepping-stones along with Japanese traditional stones. I paved
with Japanese granite, which has been used as a traditional paving stone in
Japan and Australian bricks together. And I planted dwarf lily turf, which has
been used as a traditional ground cover in Japan. I tried to express the fusion and
the harmony of Australia and Japan. This combination has shown a completely
harmonious
atmosphere through the last ten years.
By
the way, the Japanese swallowtail butterfly visits my Kangaroo Paw every morning. It seems
that the Japanese swallowtail butterfly loves the Australian kangaroo Paw.
See you Next month,
Alex
Readers of Alex’s monthly
email will recall the sad report on the death of his pet dog Mel.
Alex now has a delightful new pet dog – Charlotte.
