|
Building of the Garden - 1995-1996 |
|
|
|
| Soon
after Three Wheels was established, a project to build a Zen Garden at
Three Wheels started. Japanese, English and friends from other
nationalities began building work in June of 1994. The first stage was
to clear the site on which the garden would lie. Next, drainage was
built into the foundations. All this work although more quickly
accomplished with heavy machinery, was carried out by hand, no diggers!
Over the next two years many people contributed their time, helping to
accomplish the huge work of constructing the garden. |
|
|
Rev. Prof Taira Sato setting rubble in the soakaway
|
| The
Garden was designed by an Englishman, Professor John White, based upon
his many admiring visits to the Zen gardens of Kyoto; and the
construction work was supervised by a highly respected master gardener
from Kyoto; Mr. Masayuki Ogawa. All the materials involved in
constructing the garden originated in the UK. After many weeks of
searching, twelve main stones were chosen. They came from far and wide,
from Cumbria to Aberdeenshire, from screes, from spoil heaps, and from
river beds. |
|
| Moss
was generously gifted by Stephen and Ann Montgomery (Trustees of the
London Shogyoji Trust). This moss grew only on the dark damp sloping
banks of their garden; where slits of sunlight occasionally broke
through the canopy above. After careful transplantation into the Zen
Garden of Three Wheels, the moss now lies at the base of the stones; a
deep rich green, akin to a forest at the foothills of a vast mountain
range. |
 |
|
The
garden was finished in July of 1996. It had taken almost two years to
complete and had required the work of numerous individuals. People of
many nationalities, men and women, students, doctors and professors,
the young and the not so young, all contributed their time.
In
the process of creating the garden, the garden itself became the
creator; making and deepening the friendships of all those involved.
|
|
|
| John Read, who designed and built the Viewing Shelter, with Masayuki Ogawa, who supervised the construction of the Zen Garden. |
|
