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
