Foreign trees

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I arrived in Japan just over a week ago and want to share a little of my experience here. There are many things that go to making Japan an unusual and wonderful place to visit, and I’m sure you’ll be aware of the major differences. However, for me it is the small things that make me realise how different it is, the things that I’m not prepared for; surprisingly I’ve found that trees are one of those things.

Driving through the very narrow streets of Osaka, Japan’s second city, I’ve found that most gardens are moderately walled and not easy to see. However, many of them have exotically shaped trees rising above the walls, offering a glimpse of the garden inside. The houses in one particular area almost all had impressively manicured trees and I had time to walk around and capture a few of them.

Often they were trained in such a way that they framed the gateway to the residence while others remained more hidden, stimulating intrigue about what else lay behind the wall. These trees are very expensive to maintain, most requiring the attention of a professional. I was astounded to hear that tweezers (presumably large ones) are sometimes used in the process! I love the attention to detail and the precision of these trees; they offer a contrast to the natural beauty of the mountain cherry blossom – more of which later…

• 6 Apr, 2007
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