planning a garden while hungry

 Gardening is, to me, more than a labor of love…it is a form of hedonism.

I live in the country, largely, so that I can garden.  My  eyes have an affinity for the color of chlorophyll.

A well designed garden stimulates the same pleasure receptacle as a well crafted meal. When planning my own gardens, my orderly side, which is drawn to the symmetry of French parterres is constantly battling my wild side that roots for the riotous chaos of an English cottage garden. Makes me want to send them both to time-out in a calm, contemplative Japanese garden.

                                               NIwa-Mitate

Niwa- ("pure place", Japanese garden)
Mitate- ("new point of view", visual metaphor or allusion)

edemame karikome (clipped shrubs)
red onion mostarda kyokusui (meandering stream)
coconut ishi (stones)
tamari-malt droplets
purple shiso leaves
chive blossoms