230 



miniature landscape garden is constructed. A few square feet 

 of ground, so long as rain falls on it and dew moistens it. will 

 serve as a garden. It is common to observe, in the small (|uarters 

 occupied l)_v a famil\-, a wonderful glim])se of Ja])anese gardening, 

 devised in a small s])ace ])\ digging dee])ly and setting selected 

 rocks, thus creating the illusion of a ravine. 



Flower Gardens (Hana-Yashiki) 



The viewing of flowers is a festival occasion in Japan. The 

 ])Ium and cherry trees and the azalea shrubs in masses in the 

 fields or on the hanks of the river, arc visited hy throngs in the 

 flowering season. There are si)ecial ])laces in which the peony, 

 azalea, iris, wisteria, chrysanthemum, Hcu/i (hush clover), and 

 morning and evening glories are cultivated. These are known 

 by the name of Hana-Yashiki. Excellent restaurant acct)mm()da- 

 tions are i)rovidcd, and anxone can enjoy these flowers according 

 to their seasons. I'lnm blossoms at Kamata. peonv flowers and 

 azalea at Okubo, iris flowers at Horikiri, lespedeza at Sumida, 

 and chrysanthemum flowers at Ilongo. 



One great recreation enjoyed by the mass of Jajjanese people 

 is h^ete Da_\' of local deity {Itji-iiiclii ) : on that e\-ening hundreds 

 of street stalls open up their bazaars along the main thorough- 

 fare and most conspicuous arc the arrays of UeJciva or nursery- 

 men. The whole local streets arc transformed into o])cn flower 

 gardens ; the articles range from a tiny potted i)lant to large trees, 

 all kinds ot flowers in season, dwarf trees, miniature gardens and 

 shrubs, b'or instance, in the city of Tokio these Fete nights take 

 place almost every evening in at least ten to fifteen different local- 

 ities ; no vehicles are allowed to enter into the Fete limit after 

 dark. No well-to-do merchant is allowed to open a street stall; 

 the license is linnted onl}- to the merchants of small means. 



Winter Decorations 



A Japanese landscape garden retains its beantv throughout the 

 winter. Ephemeral plants, so far as jjossibic, are eliminated from 

 its construction. Instead, the pines and firs and other evergreens 

 are cons])icuous features. The stones, ravines, and ponds are 

 alike beautiful in the winter season (h^ig. 20). 



