Seattle Chinese Garden 西华园

Guests from left: Marian Weldin, Phil Wood, Margaret Britton, Mary Anne Carter, and Scott Robins

At last year's gala event, Garden board member Margaret Britton won an afternoon tour at the home and galleries of Dennis Evans and Nancy Mee, two acclaimed Seattle artists who have cultivated their art and garden in the Bryant-Assumption neighborhood for over 35 years. This summer, Margaret invited a dozen guests to share in the excursion and see how the Utopian Heights Studios has transformed its neighborhood. What is unique about these artists is the magic they bring to the neighborhood – a joyful community sharing, an uplifting merging of art and garden.

Dennis and Nancy planted over forty stunning fuchsia Prunus cerasifera Thundercloud trees on the streets, creating a dramatic canopy through which one enters the Garden of Souls, a secluded garden showcasing Nancy Mee's glass sculptures. Her sculptures incorporate glass, forged steel, stone and photography – fusing and slumping glass to form elegant, mysterious shapes.

The garden was begun on September 11, 2001 and has evolved into a memorial of all souls lost that day, spreading out onto the sidewalks surrounding the two lots. There are North Dakota limestones, beautifully shaped by ice-age floes, sculptures – a seasonal dial showing when it's time to celebrate equinoxes, bronze plaques embedded into the sidewalk with messages ("The wise man changes his mind - the fool, never"), small benches, and a wooden shrine at which to leave notes - hundreds from passers by. So much magic when you look carefully.

Dennis Evans, far right, talking about his newest works (now at Woodside/Braseth gallery)

Across the street the artists live and work in their home - Nancy down below, Dennis up above. Between the two studios are rooms filled with their collections and works from all over the world. Dennis is a master of oil on wax encaustic with mixed media - very mixed, very eclectic. They both demonstrated their talents with a dramatic flair.

Dennis Evans newest works, "The Humbling of Indra," are currently being shown at the Woodside/Braseth Gallery through October 5th.

A guest relaxing in the front room...

Nancy Mee (at right) explaining the process involved in creating her sculptures

Several years ago, the artists gave a tour for the Chinese artisans who built Knowing the Spring Courtyard (see Hear the Song). To read more about Dennis and Nancy, check out the blog entry and photographs from the Intercontinental Gardener.

This year's Soaring Dragon celebration and benefit dinner will be November 9. Please check the Garden website for more details.

Through the generous support of volunteers, supporters, board and staff, the Soaring Dragon Benefit raised $43,000 at the Gala event this year. "The night was a really impressive show of teamwork and collaboration. Seeing so many key supporters in one place at one time was really heartening and should give us all renewed conviction of our ability to rally people to the Garden cause," said Garden president Jonathan Geiger. The money raised will help support enhancements to the Garden and expanded cultural and educational programs for 2014.

Lion Dance by Sifu David Leong and Northwest Kung Fu and Fitness opened the evening

An evening like this, as we all know, does not happen without the huge input from volunteers, many of whom have been long-time participants in the Garden. The Boeing Company was one of this year's largest supporters.

Garden volunteers made sure the evening was a big success.

Karan Dawson wins the Madame Chiang Kai Shek portfolio donated by Margaret Pageler

Guests Gary and Jeanine Bodenstab (left) with SCG president Jonathan Geiger and wife Heidi

Peggy and Gary Tribble check out the beautiful brush paintings of Madame Chiang Kai Shek

The Brockey Center at South Seattle Community Center is a great place to host the Gala – feedback reported great reviews on the fantastic setting and delicious food. Next year, the Garden is hoping to secure a date in October. The programs, slide shows, decorations, food, raffles, and auction items seemed to move flawlessly thanks to an incredible corps of volunteers and board members who put in long hours before the event.

Back Row: Jonathan Geiger, deputy mayor Darryl Smith, Gary Tribble, Liz Hattemer, Margaret Britton, Phil Wood, Jim Dawson. Front Row: Ka Ka Chan, Kimberly Chang, Hien Nguyen, Maggie Gilbert

Mary Hsu, Sifu David Leong, and Margaret Britton chat at Margaret's table just before the Lion Dance

Steve Erickson admires the Qing Dynasty bench donated by Darcie Furlan

Heidi Geiger's beautiful flower arrangements were a big hit

Photos by Rock Gilbert II, 787 Preflight and Delivery Industrial Engineering Lead, Boeing

By Shamus Johnson

I sit in Knowing the Spring Courtyard and look out onto the landscape that surrounds it – a beautiful patch of land on a hill overlooking my city of Seattle. I think of Chongqing, our sister city 6000 miles away, and imagine someone sitting in a Garden like the one ours will be someday. A beautiful garden on a hilltop. It seems to be taking such a long time, but our small community of volunteers and friends of the Garden won't give up. We have faith that one day, not so far off, we can invite our Chongqing friends to visit the Garden, for this is their Garden, too! A gift and a bond that we feel very strongly here.

There's a new addition to the Garden landscape – a statue of a carp, the Dragon Seeker. For now, it is swimming through a sea of dirt, but soon it will be surrounded by peonies sent to us from the friendly city of Luoyang. It is our goal to see the carp turn into a dragon and to be placed in a more significant, more auspicious spot, a final resting place after the long journey upstream.

We all share a vision of the day our Garden will be a beacon to the city of Seattle, and beyond. A destination for garden lovers and families. A spot to escape from the noisy bustle of the city. A place to renew and calm our souls, surrounded by a bit of paradise. Our garden keeper, Bob Seeley, is a careful and caring keeper. Together, we will see it through. I look forward to seeing you here someday soon. We will meet you at the gate.

"The fish has swum very far and for a very long time. It must be so happy to rest now that it has found its home at the Garden..."

Shamus Johnson is a longtime volunteer with the Garden who has pondered the mystery and voyage of the carp landing on the edge of the Courtyard. The carp is fast becoming the Garden's mascot, symbolizing our continuing effort to move forward. One of the first things Bob Seeley, our new garden manager, did was to release the giant carp from its captivity. To read more about how the carp came to the Garden, please see a previous entry: The Mysterious Carp.

In walking, just walk. In sitting, just sit. Above all, don't wobble.

A visit to the Garden on the rare, sharp, sunny January day last weekend, opened my eyes to the beautiful and subtle changes going on in the Garden. First of all, what a great pleasure to be able to bring my dog for the visit.

Instead of just glancing through the courtyard gates, we explored the beautiful fields and paths beyond and headed down the hill for a glimpse at the icy shards forming on Mirror Lake. It was pure joy for Homer the dog and a big surprise for me: the path looping around the fields was lush and green and soft beneath my feet.

As I headed back up the hill past Song Mei Ting, I spotted Bob Seely and Dewey Webster hard at work. Garden Manager Bob Seely has worked tirelessly to improve the landscape since he began at the garden over 5 months ago. This month, in addition to laying the rocks that surround the new peony garden, he is revitalizing the rock pond at the corner of Knowing the Spring courtyard. He and docent Dewey Webster spent the weekend scraping down rocks from the edging in order to reclaim a more pond-like look to that area.

The tree peonies donated to the garden by the city of Luoyang have been meticulously planted on the berm flanking the courtyard - in just a few years, the blooms will be stunning. As you can see, the large carp sculpture on the right (the Dragon Seeker!) will soon be "floating" amidst those beautiful peonies. The new moon on January 30 begins the year of the Horse, a time of fast victories, unexpected adventure, and surprising romance - one quick visit to the Garden on a crisp January day, and I could feel that energy.

Inspecting the new rootstock are (from left) garden manager Bob Seely, Yiqiao (George) Jiang of Luoyang and Seattle, Scott Heinlein, Andrew Colvin of Washington State University’s King County Extension program, and Garden board members Sandy Marvinney and Phil Wood. Heinlein and Jiang, along with Kirk Chia are founders and leaders of the American Peony Art and Cultural Association. APACA is partnering with SCG in creating our Luoyang Peony Garden and sponsoring the annual May Peony Festival.

Story by Sandy Marvinney

Volunteers covering the north end of the garden with topsoil.

Week by week, like unfurling a scroll painting, volunteers planted more than 400 peony rootstock in a sweeping arc to the east of Knowing the Spring Courtyard. More than two dozen varieties of tree peonies and several varieties of herbaceous peonies donated from Luoyang, China, will bloom in May at the Garden. The Seattle Chinese Garden will soon have the largest public peony garden on the West Coast.

Kirk Chia, president of APACA, shows off an impressive clump of rootstock, called Luoyang Hon. All the rootstock are five to six years old and will have at least six blossoms.

"The beautiful and vibrant peonies we received this time are from Louyang Shenzhou Peony Company," says Kirk Chia. "The CEO of the company visited the Seattle Chinese Garden last summer and is very enthusiastic about its mission and APACA's goal to enhance the horticulture with a beautiful peony garden."

Riz Reyes places an ID tag on a rootstock. Garden manager Bob Seely organized the December 7 tagging work party in the Chan Center. Also helping were Phil Wood, Kirk Chia, George Jiang, Scott Heinlein, and Sandy Marvinney. Reyes, a longtime member of the Garden’s Horticulture Committee, owns RHR Horticulture and Landwave Gardens.

From late December through early January, Bob Seely and volunteers did the heavy work of digging holes and planting the grow pots along the embankment to the east of Knowing the Spring Courtyard.

Jon Geiger (left, SCG president) and volunteer Bill Beineke, move a stone into position at the garden’s edge. During the first two weeks of January, many volunteers helped Bob Seely move tons of stone to create an attractive border for the peony garden. The stones came from a tributary of the Yangtze River and are leftovers from construction of Knowing the Spring Courtyard.

Long-time Garden member and supporter Stella Chien dropped by the Garden on Saturday afternoon to get a look at the action and cheer on volunteers. Stella inspires everyone with her unflagging dedication to the Garden and generous contributions to horticultural projects. And she rolls up her sleeves too, even helping push around a wheelbarrow or two of topsoil. After a hard day’s work and great progress, Jon, Stella, and Bob are all smiles.

Big thanks go to Gary Gaston of Gaston Brothers Excavating for the 400 cubic yards of topsoil and for the Sawdust Supply Company which donated another 10 cubic yards of compost for the project.

Thank you to all the volunteers who have helped Bob Seely this winter with a variety of projects ranging from work on the peony garden to pruning and weeding: Jon Geiger, Michael Brokaw, Phil Wood, Doug Rice, Angelo Brown, Dewey Webster, Jun Ren, Leona Chiu, Kirk Chia, Scott Heinlein, Sandy Marvinney, Wayne Prochaska, Bill Beineke, Tim Whittome, George Jiang, Stella Chien, Shamus Johnson, Margaret Pageler, and Liz Hattemer.

If you would like to join the crew at a future garden work party or assist Bob Seely for any amount of time that fits your schedule on a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday, please contact him at gardenmanager@seattlechinesegarden.org or 206-849-4055. Come visit soon to see the recent enhancements to the garden, and mark your calendar for the second annual Seattle-Luoyang Peony Festival on May 3!

(Photos by Sandy Marvinney and Kirk Chia)

Text and photos by Sandy Marvinney

A gentle falling of snow is a rare visitor to our city, so on February 9, the Garden beckoned. Each season brings treasures for the senses. Snow brings stillness for the mind–heart and yin-yang zingers for the eyes — dazzling white against dark roof tiles and vibrant bamboo leaves.The pristine field and shadowy tree line seen through the main gate evoked a Chinese brush painting. Only the carp, our “Dragon Seeker” seemed a little lonely, like a hermit in the snowy mountains. Scroll down to see more photos and a winter poem by a Buddhist monk of the Ming Dynasty.

Snow covers earth and sky everything is new
my body concealed inside a silver world
suddenly I enter a treasury of light
a place forever free of any dust

Hanshan Deqing, Buddhist monk and poet (1546–1623)

Translated by Red Pine

Photos by Marcia Mueller and Sandy Marvinney
Text by Sandy Marvinney

Marcia Mueller photo

Rain poured and the wind howled, but neither deterred Garden friends and photography fans on February 15. More than 100 guests attended the opening reception for the juried photo show of garden images and celebration of the Lantern Festival. Guests enjoyed talking with the photographers about how they created their shots. Delightful guzheng music and an extensive buffet of desserts and nibbles enhanced the festivities. A highlight was the raffle — eight ticket winners took home matted photo prints. As the evening drew to a close and the rain stopped, many walked down to lantern-lit Knowing the Spring Courtyard, where they were treated to a magical appearance of the full moon peeking from the cloud breaks.

Marcia Mueller photo

Attendees enjoyed Shirley Wang’s guzheng music. She has been playing this ancient instrument since age 6 and studied at the Central Conservatory of Music and the China Conservatory of Music. Shirley was honored as the 2008 National Outstanding Teacher of Guzheng. She now lives in the Seattle area, performing at local events and teaching at the Seattle Guzheng Studio.

Marcia Mueller photo

The juried show displayed four images from each of ten photographers who participated in the summer 2013 workshop at the Garden led by Ray Pfortner. Aurora Santiago’s photo “Damselfly on Iris Leaf” (lower right), won the People’s Choice Award by vote of attendees at the reception. A photo by Briand Sanderson placed second and one by Sandy Marvinney placed third.

Sandy Marvinney photo

Jim Dawson, vice president of the Seattle Chinese Garden, welcomed attendees and congratulated Ray Pfortner and the photographers for their outstanding work. Jim also served on the jury panel selecting images for the show, as did Ellen Banner (photographer with The Seattle Times), Dan Driscoll, Howard Nanto, and Katie Yuen. Thank you to all!

Marcia Mueller photo

Ray Pfortner spent many hours planning and hanging the juried show. Based on Vashon Island, Ray is an educator and professional photographer whose work focuses on nature, landscapes, environmental issues, and gardens. He has a special interest in coaching new talent and teaches an annual workshop at the Chinese Garden.

Oohs and aahs wafted throughout Knowing the Spring Courtyard as visitors stepped inside to see the lantern-lit gate. As if by magic, a brilliant full moon drifted in and out of cloud breaks, casting its light over the Garden.

Sandy Marvinney photo

2013 Workshop Photographers

M. Teresa S. Brown

James Campbell

Leslie Keck

Sandy Marvinney

Robert Meyer

Marcia Mueller

Briand Sanderson

Aurora Santiago

Dewey Webster

Marcia Wesley

The photo show in the Chan Center will be open on selected dates through summer 2014. Watch for information on the Garden’s website and in the e-newsletter. We plan to sponsor several evening events in the courtyard this summer, so stay tuned for details.

Aolani and Mimi Chan

Mimi and Aolani Chan know exactly how to stoke the energy of 20 hard working volunteers on a cold wet February day: slow cook a huge pot of barbecue pulled pork for two days and keep that heat going. Bake delicious brownies and serve very hot tea. The tantalizing aromas of Mimi's gourmet cooking fired up the strength and vitality required to work on what would be considered by most a dreary Seattle Saturday. Yet, volunteers cheerfully traipsed in and out of the visitor center trailer, emptying boxes and loading up the moving van headed to our storage unit in SoDo. They dug out pine trees and moved wet soil. Friends were made, belly's were filled, and laughter resounded.

From left, Michael Chan, Aolani Chan, Margaret Britton, Mimi Chan, Cynthia Welte, Katie Yuen, Judy Cashman, Joan Himmes, George Jiang, Liz Hattemer, Michael Brokaw, Bill Beineke, Scott Heinlein, Bob Seely, Phil Wood, Jon Geiger, Margaret Pageler, Jack Pageler, Brady Morrison

Garden Manager Bob Seely had also put out a call for help to remove the garden that was built in front of the soon-to-be-moved trailer. Pine trees and large plants, the enormous special black tree peony, rocks and wet soil, were all moved to their new home on the Song Mei Ting pathway. Bob wondered whether he'd have a full contingent after lunch, but Mimi's delicious food and the magnificence of working together covered in mud and dripping with rain kept everyone much longer than anticipated.

Brady Morrison heaving soil

Bob Seely with George Jiang (sporting the best work shoes ever!)

Often the building of a garden requires its deconstruction, exposing assumptions and revealing hidden parts that need a fresh look, a reinterpretation. Do we need this trailer here? What if we rescue the carp from its crate and move him to the top of the garden? How about we plant all these peony trees here and move this jumble of stones out from under the brambles? Let's build a wall! Look at these beautiful Chinese bamboo rocks! Why don't we thin the bamboo plants and stand them up here?

"Then, if any hardy souls are left, we will use the forklift to move our collection of construction junk for easier access and more aesthetic storage. Sunday, Jon and I will continue with the dejunking and organization of the roof tile and paver crates needed for our next building project."

Oops

Brady Morrison and Jack Pageler took care of the problem.

The carp, looking a bit bewildered, keeps watch over the workers and the budding Luoyang tree peonies.

Joan Himmes and Margaret Pageler take a break from the mud

George Jiang, Scott Heinlein, and Kirk Chia move the special black tree peony.

Jack Pageler enjoying Mimi's pulled barbecue

Kirk Chia and Bill Beineke exchanging contact info

Joan Himmes deconstructing the largest, heaviest pile of dirt ever!

"Most of you know this by now, but we aren't having every third Saturday work parties for two hours any more. I am in the garden Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from nine to five each week. So I hope each of you will find a slot that works and come when you can. See the thousands of tree peony buds and be part of an amazing project – a totally transporting and authentic Chinese garden built entirely by volunteers. Tell your friends to be on the list. Yelp us and like us on Facebook," writes Bob Seely, our visionary Garden Manager.

By moving a few trees and emptying out the trailer we are able to take apart one look and create another, reinterpreting the Garden, building anew.

How to Move a Tree is very reminiscent of the video I filmed with the Chinese artisans (see How to Turn a Tree), so of course documentation for this was required!

Vice Mayor Wang Jinglin and Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith sign a memorandum of understanding between the city of Luoyang and the city of Seattle as a result of meetings held in Luoyang, China April 10th through April 12th 2013

Based on conversations during the inaugural visit to China's peony capital, it was determined that there was sufficient mutual interest on the part of the City of Seattle and the City of Luoyang to establish an agreement in support of a proposed "Seattle Luoyang Peony Festival." Of course, our fledgling peony festival to be held next month will be at a fraction of the scale seen at Luoyang's 31-year-old annual national extravaganza. But the inaugural delegation, led by Seattle's deputy mayor Darryl Smith and received in Luoyang by vice mayor Wang Jinglin, determined that there was sufficient mutual interest and serious acknowledgement that establishing strong relationships for this festival will also open channels for economic trade and development between our two cities.

Jim Dawson photo

So after a successful week of peony exploration and discovery in Luoyang (洛阳), the Seattle Chinese Garden is eager to host the first Seattle Luoyang Peony Festival on the weekend of May 18. The importance of Seattle's nascent festival should not be underrated. Peonies are perennial favorites in the flower garden. Few herbaceous plants can rival them for floral display and foliage. Their exquisite, large blossoms make excellent cut flowers and the deep green foliage provides a beautiful background. What was also apparent to the Seattle delegates while in Luoyang, was that the peony has an intoxicating fragrance driving the most staid of visitors to giddy heights. Deputy mayor Darryl Smith found himself surrounded by peony patriarchs and peony princesses wherever he went.

Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith (right) with "32Gig" the nickname I gave to professional photographer assigned to our delegation. (Jim Dawson photo)

The peony flowering usually lasts one to two weeks in late spring to early summer. However, by selecting and planting mid and late-season bloomers, flowering can be extended for six weeks. The festival in Luoyang attracts thousands of visitors daily to their city starting the first week of April lasting until mid May.

Luoyang "peony princess" at the White Horse temple

Seattle-Luoyang Peony Festival and Seattle Bamboo Festival at Seattle Chinese Garden

Saturday–Sunday, May 18–19, 10 am to 4 pm

The Garden presents a double festival focused on two prized plants in Chinese horticulture. Come celebrate the first blossoms on the tree peony plants donated by the city of Luoyang, China’s “peony capital.” The festivals feature plant displays, bamboo sales, educational displays, talks, and demonstrations, plus arts and craft items and more. Co-sponsored with the Northwest Chapter of the American Bamboo Society and the American Peony Arts and Culture Association.

This month, Taihu rocks sent to us from Suzhou several years ago have been released from the confines of their crated captivity. Much like the large carp (the Dragon Seeker!) that is now swimming regally amongst the Luoyang tree peonies, the Taihu rocks were protected from harm in crates during construction of Knowing the Spring Courtyard. Now they, too, are set free. These picturesque garden stones that represent the themes of simplicity and spirituality in a garden are breathing freely now, providing inspiration and focus as they were originally meant to do.

When I visited the replica of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the International Garden Expo in Beijing last April (organized by SCG vice president Jim Dawson), I spoke with the Chongqing project manager Wang Jin about our Taihu rocks. He explained that Taihu rocks are recognized by a set of four important qualities: thinness (shou), openness (tou), perforations (lou), and wrinkling (zhou).

Wang Jin with SCG vice president Jim Dawson on tour at the Beijing Expo in April 2013

"As a natural element and irreplaceable component in garden art, the rock is considered an ideal representation for the beauty of garden culture. And within the understated appearance of Taihu rocks, there lies an intimate relationship with the local geographical character and a more profound influence from the philosophical theories in the traditional Chinese culture," explained Wang Jin.

If you haven't been to the Garden recently, you'll be surprised by the changes. The visitor center is gone, the fence between the Arboretum and the Garden has been removed, as has almost all of the old construction junk. Garden manager Bob Seely writes:

Garden manager Bob Seely

"In the last couple of weeks we have uncrated the Taihu scholar stone and put it on display, begun a bamboo thatch fence around our remaining roof tile crates, removed much of the east construction fence in preparation for planting a screening plant barrier at the college property line, painted the container storage for our tools a subtle gray, completed a first pass at our peony database, and thinned about a third of the bamboo on the east side. Yes, we are on a roll!"

Go to the Garden and take a deep breath and be inspired by all that has been accomplished. We are different from most other public gardens. We are building and growing with passion and teamwork and almost entirely by volunteers. On May 3rd and 4th, we will have our second annual Peony Festival. Come help us prepare for this beautiful day. Come see the changing garden.

Margaret Britton, Robert Brodfuehrer, Richard and Lynn Chang, Chester and Sue Chen, Ginger Chien, Stella Chien, James and Karan Dawson, Francisca Erickson, Robert Frey, Tom Frye, Jonathan and Heidi Geiger, Hong Kong Association of Washington, David and Florence Kleine, Jerry and Charlene Lee, May Lui, Don Mar, Jack and Marilyn Rafn, Eric and Margaret Rothchild Charitable Fund, Xiuling Su, Gary and Margaret Tribble, Phil Wood and Judy Mahoney, Wei T. and Joy Y. Wu

The Bamboo Circle is a core group of friends, community leaders, and philanthropists who support the Garden's cultural, educational, and community mission to build the largest Sichuan-style garden outside China. These friends have had an incredible impact on what is essentially an all volunteer project. Join this dedicated group of supportive leaders who take action and invest in our community. They have donated their enormous network of community resources and have sustained the Garden from its earliest stages. We would like to make the Bamboo Circle stronger by signing up 100 more key people!

All who join the Bamboo Circle by contributing $1,000 or more for 2014 will be invited to a members-only reception in Knowing the Spring Courtyard. Circle members may also arrange for a private docent tour of the Garden with family and friends.

Your contribution has immediate impact by sustaining the programs and activities that will welcome thousands of visitors this year. Contributions are tax deductible and give the satisfaction of joining our most devoted Garden members to create a widening circle of support for this community treasure.

Imagine friends chatting over a cup of oolong in the Tea House, tai chi sessions by the lake, music on a summer evening, Chinese poetry and arts classes, and lion dancers leading colorful celebrations for seasonal festivals.

Join our Bamboo Circle and help us grow this magnificent landmark!

Below are three ways you can join:

Mail a check payable to Seattle Chinese Garden, 6000 16th Ave. SW, Seattle WA 98106.
Call the office at 206-934-5219 to pay by Visa credit card (between 1-5 pm, Tuesday to Friday).
Or pay online through the Garden website: DONATE NOW.

Photo above: "Garden of Solitary Joy" (Dule Yuan) by Qiu Ying (ca. 1498-1552)

So many happy visitors came to the Garden this weekend to celebrate the second annual Seattle–Luoyang Peony Festival. The crowds on Saturday snapped up all the peonies for sale within hours. Children ran gleefully to see the Dragon Seeker sitting grandly above the tree peonies. We all enjoyed the lush surroundings, the wonderful presentations, and the magnificent open feel to the Garden - the place has never looked better. It truly was a weekend of celebration and inspiration.

Peony Princess of the day

Peonies ready to burst in bloom - come back to see them!

Strolling through the bamboo rocks on the new paths

Szechuan food served up by women from the PC Chinese Restaurant and Mmmm...Yummy Authentic Chinese Event Catering.

Check out the beautiful photos in the Seattle Times by Erika Schultz!

From left: Kirk Chia, Mr. Wong, Xie Liping, and Stella Chien listening to Jim Dawson's speech

Artist Xie Liping made her first visit to Seattle by way of the Seattle Chinese Garden this last weekend. Xie Liping is considered one of China's most esteemed peony artists, famous for her free style and vibrant colors, not to mention her engaging personality. Hosted by the American Peony Art and Culture Association (APACA), Xie Liping was particularly pleased to see the extremely tall tree peony on her walk into the courtyard. Apparently in Luoyang, considered to be the peony capital of China, they never grow quite so tall. Something about our Seattle rainy winters...

Greeted by her APACA hosts Kirk Chia and Scott Heinlein, Xie Liping was happily guided through the Garden for a tour by Garden president Jonathan Geiger. She met with garden manager Bob Seely who promptly escorted her down the new garden paths.

Bob Seely with shovel, hosting the group.

Later that evening, Kirk Chia and Scott Heinlein hosted an incredibly lavish Szechuan dinner for the group which included Mr. Wong and his daughter, also from Luoyang. The dinner was held at Szechuan Gardens in Lynnwood. Toasts were made all around with a bottle of Mou Tai donated by board member Margaret Britton shared in honor of Mr. Wong's Mou Tai business.

Board members Jonathan Geiger, Jim Dawson, and Sandy Marvinney and supporter Stella Chien represented the Garden for the day's activities which included a visit to the Li Bai statue in South Seattle Community College's courtyard and to Pike Place market downtown. Darryl Smith, who is currently a consultant working with APACA in China, arrived just in time for the feast.

Text by Margaret Britton
Photos by Jim Dawson

Jim Dawson photo

The chill in the air stilled not the hearts nor hands of guzheng in Knowing the Spring Courtyard. No, they were awakened as only a spring concert with an electrifying backdrop can do.

Jim Dawson photo

On Saturday, June 14, master teacher Shirley Wang of Seattle Guzheng Studio brought magic to the Garden for over 60 family members and guests who attended the recital. Students of all ages and skill levels showcased their talents.

Jim Dawson photo

George Jiang painted Chinese calligraphy and Josie Zhou performed tai chi to the guzheng music, evoking sounds of cascading waterfalls, thunder, and the scenic countryside, just a glance away. Individual student performances and duets entranced the guests with traditional tunes of rivers, fishing boats, love, spring, and mountains.

Jim Dawson photo

The backdrop of the Garden view through the gate could not have been more fitting. The plucking and strumming of the guzheng, a Chinese zither with 18 or more strings and movable bridges, brought magic to the Garden.

By Margaret Britton

Photos by Jim Dawson

"Complimenting each other, the pine and plum try to hold spring in the courtyard"

It was a beautiful morning up on the ridge at the Seattle Chinese Garden on July 16 – bright sunshine and a cool breeze. Representatives of the boards of the Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Trust and the Seattle Chinese Garden gathered to dedicate the Elisabeth C. Miller Garden within Knowing the Spring Courtyard. Elisabeth “Betty” Miller was an early visionary and one of the founding members of the Seattle Chinese Garden – a long-time supporter. She was a renowned horticulturalist and avid collector of Asian plants and helped draw up the Garden’s original plant list, based largely on her experience from cultivating Chinese plants in her own garden.

A name plaque marks the garden and a poetry stone aptly states in Mandarin, “Complimenting each other the pine and plum try to hold spring in the courtyard.” Stella Chien, who wrote the poem, explained how the plum and pine want to hold onto spring in the courtyard as long as possible; likewise, we want to hold onto Betty’s memory in Knowing the Spring Courtyard.

Seattle Chinese Garden Board President Jon Geiger recognized the Miller Foundation for its generous grant of $250,000 for the completion of Knowing the Spring Courtyard, a significant grant which spurred several other donations. Tea and cookies and a tour rounded out the lovely event honoring Betty Miller.

Dedication guests include, from left: Jim Dawson, Frank Minton, Betty Bottler, Jon Geiger, Winlok Miller, Stella Chien, Dick Brown, Margaret Britton, Phil Wood and two guests.

Add caption

The Seattle Chinese Garden hosted over 30 guests from Luoyang, China last weekend. The delegation from Luoyang included well-known poets, artists, and business men and women, all connecting with the Garden in celebration of our nascent Peony Festival established over the last two years with the city of Luoyang.

SCG President Jon Geiger presented with Luoyang gifts

Fresh cut peonies, a wide variety of peony products, paintings, calligraphy, and photography provided by the delegation filled the Chan Center. Kirk Chia, Scott Heinlein, and George Jiang of the American Peony Art and Culture Association (APACA) hosted the delegation's visit to Seattle.

APACA's Scott Heinlein and Kirk Chia with Luoyang guest and fresh cut peonies

Come fly a kite! The annual Kite Festival is Saturday, August 9 - don't miss this incredible fun celebration from 2 to 6 pm. Plenty of parking. Lots of fun - music, dancing, food. Sponsored by the Boeing Company and the Boeing Asian American Professional Association. Read more in the West Seattle Herald.

Thank you for helping us grow the Garden! We have had lots of press lately.
Check out the latest in the Northwest Asian Weekly - a visit can cure all sorts of woes.

The Seattle Chinese Garden is a beautiful project. We welcome contributions of all sizes. This weekend, 25 more bricks were installed on the wall. Honor your family, a friend, or an organization with a Garden brick. Your brick donation will be seen by your children, your grandchildren, the Northwest community, and visitors from around the world. You will help build a community gem – be a part of this beautiful Garden!

Below are a number of different ways you can contribute to the garden.

1. Donate Online Now.
2. Donate to the Brick Campaign
3. Become a Member

Many companies and foundations will match their employees' gifts. Check this list to see:
C ompanies that will Match your Donation.

Not sure whether Garden president and Boeing engineer Jon Geiger managed to fly his boat (Rick Vadnais photo)

Perhaps he should stick with the more aeronautic designs from Chongqing! (Rick Vadnais photo)

According to my most basic online research, the process of designing an aircraft is generally divided into three distinct phases of design: conceptual, preliminary, and detail. Each phase has it own unique characteristics and influence on the final product. These phases all involve aerodynamic, propulsion, and structural design. Seems to me, the Chongqing kites bought on the streets of our sister city, fit the bill perfectly and flying boats is just not a good idea.

Chongqing kites sailing high – maybe next year Chongqing will send their professionals... (Rick Vadnais photo)

Boeing Global Corporate Citizenship supported the Seattle Chinese Garden's Annual Kite Festival on August 9th with a $1000 donation this year – supporting our beautiful garden and extraordinary cultural resource. And thanks to the strong committment of the Boeing Asian American Professional Association (BAAPA), the second annual kite festival was one of the Garden's largest outdoor events. Boeing professionals and Garden volunteers once again supported the Puget Sound community with music, dancing, and just plain fun kite flying.

(Rick Vadnais photo)

BAAPA North Chapter President Maggie Gilbert and Boeing Electrical Standards and Design Engineering Manager Jacky-Vy Chau were both interviewed by the Chinese press. You can see their China Press interviews and video footage here.

(Rick Vadnais photo)

On a glorious Seattle summer day, over 500 citizens of the Emerald City sailed their kites, danced to Eastern music, and filled the hillside airspace with beautiful color and creativity. Nothing beats the sound of laughing, running children on a windy day – kite flyers ranged in age from about 3 to 80!

(Jim Dawson photo)

Seattle Chinese Garden's Soaring Dragon Celebration on October 25th was a big success, raising nearly $60,000 for the Garden! Students from Northwest Kung Fu and Fitness opened the evening with the traditional, yet always rousing Lion Dance.

Thank you to our sponsors: Boeing, HKBAW, MulvannyG2 Architecture, Marpac, Delta, and Nanhai.

The reception featured a Feng Shuii Advice Center, a tea tasting center, and lovely guzheng music from the talented hands of Ena Wang.

The early evening Garden walk was mostly rained out, but Don and Sue Mar braved the elements for a Garden stroll and peeked at our newest garden element (not yet installed): a terra cotta warrior.

Auctioneer John Curley led the bidding and Raise the Paddle, and Benjamin Lee's $500 pushed us over our RTP goal of $25,000!

Thanks everyone for your support of the Garden! Mark your calendars for our next Soaring Dragon Celebration on October 24, 2015.Plan for a garden stroll invitation on a lovely evening next summer - we'll keep you posted!

Photography by Dan Driscoll

Photo by Garden Manager Bob Seely

More than two dozen varieties of tree peonies and several herbaceous peonies donated from Luoyang, China, over three years ago are blooming once again in our Garden. Seattle's balmy weather this spring has prompted an early explosion of freshness and vigor - a colorful metaphor for the burgeoining friendship between Seattle Chinese Garden and Luoyang.

Bob Seely photo

In 2012, volunteers planted these 400 peony rootstock in the hopes of creating the largest public peony garden on the West Coast. We see early signs of this fast becoming a reality in just three years. Come enjoy the lush surroundings and the magnificent open feel to our unique Garden.

As Garden Manager Bob Seely states, "our Garden is made by volunteers and friends and that is what makes it a special place."

Volunteer Kirk Chia (APACA) with original rootstock in 2012 (Sandy Marvinney photo)

There are several great ways to enjoy the Garden this month. This weekend, on Saturday April 4th, the Garden is hosting a Bamboo Workshop & Garden Tour organized with the American Bamboo Society. Gardeners of all experience are welcome to attend this special work day focused on bamboo. You'll see 13 varieties of bamboo in the Garden and learn the difference between running and clumping! Dress for touring and digging and building - you'll learn how to construct a simple bamboo fence and try your hand at attaching the bundles to our fence frames with simple techniques. This is a great way to make new friends - pack a lunch and wear your work clothes. 10 am to 3 pm.

The third annual Peony and Bamboo Festival will be celebrated the weekend of April 25 to 26, from 10 am to 4 pm. Come early - last year the crowds snapped up all the peonies for sale within hours on the first day. Children especially have a lot of fun running to see the Dragon Seeker sitting grandly above the tree peonies. There will be displays, specialty growers, cultural entertainment, and delicious food. Sponsored by the American Peony Art and Culture Association (APACA) and the American Bamboo Society.

The Magic of Merging Community and Garden

Soaring Dragon Benefit Raises Over $43,000 for Seattle Chinese Garden

The Dragon Seeker

Focusing on the Moment

In walking, just walk. In sitting, just sit. Above all, don't wobble.

New Peony Garden Arcs Across East Embankment

A Garden Transformed

Dazzling Photography and Full Moon Magic

Volunteers Help Deconstruct the Garden

Luoyang 洛阳 Works with Seattle to Establish Local Annual Peony Festival

Seattle-Luoyang Peony Festival and Seattle Bamboo Festival at Seattle Chinese Garden

Saturday–Sunday, May 18–19, 10 am to 4 pm

Taihu Rocks Released from Captivity: Shou, Tou, Lou, Zhou!

Join the Bamboo Circle of Friends at the Garden!

Second Annual Peony Festival Charms Many

Luoyang Artist Xie Liping visits the Garden

古箏 Guzheng Magic in the Garden - Still Not My Heart

Dedicating the Elisabeth C. Miller Garden

Delegation from Luoyang Visits Garden

Mei, Mei, Mei! Let's All Fly a Kite!

Boeing Engineer Flies His Boat

Soaring Dragon Celebration Great Success

Luoyang Tree Peonies Back in Bloom