School kids in a gaming trance on a station platform. Is this a “still city”?

昨年末から、オランダの「Still City」という東京についての研究とアートのプロジェクトに参加しています。「Still City」の主題は成長後の都市です。中学生たちが電車のホームでDSで遊んでいる写真は、静かな都市のイメージの一つだと思います。東京は巨大なのに、公共の場所は平穏です。安全なので、包括的です。

Since late last year, I’ve been involved with a research and art project called Still City, based in Amsterdam. Over 25 Dutch urbanists, designers, and artists came to Tokyo to create a guide book exploring the idea of Tokyo as a Still City. The main meaning of “still city” is post-growth.

This image of two school kids lost in a daze of handheld gaming on a train station platform also make me think of a still city. Tokyo is a “still” mega-city that is remarkably quiet despite the crowds of people, and with few exceptions, disarmingly safe. Tokyo is also a place where public functions, from transit and streets to bathing and swimming, are clean, efficient, and open to everyone.

Newly planted herbs at Shibaura House kick-off event

芝浦ハウスのコミュニティー・ハ—ブ・ガーデンのイベント・キックオフで、きれいな小鳥小屋と車輪のついた木製のプランターに、皆で一緒にハ—ブを植えました。たくさん友だちが来てくれて、とてもうれしかったです。

This is a photo from Shibaura House‘s Community Herb Garden project kick-off. I love the bird house planters, and the fact that the large wooden planters have hidden wheels to make the garden easily reconfigurable. Thanks to so many friends who came to the event!

Green curtain filling in again

今年もグリーンカーテンが厚くなってきました。琉球アサガオやバラやジャスミンがネットに登っています。左側、カナメモチは台所に一番近いです。

This year’s green curtain is filling in. Already leafing out are the perennial Okinawa morning glory, jasmine, and a pink rose. The kanamemochi (photina) bush is about 1.5 meters tall, and brings the garden right up to the sliding glass kitchen doors.

Blueberry flowers appear again on balcony

今年もブルーベリーの花が咲いています。

These blueberry bushes offer something for every season: from the white lantern like flowers, to green and then blue fruit, and red fall foliage.

Is kanamemochi Tokyo’s best hedge?

普通の植物が好きで、いつも近所の庭に注目しています。東京で簡単に育つカナメモチという木は一番好きな垣根です。春に赤色の若葉が出て、きれいです。植木鉢でも地面でも、速く大きくなります。僕のベランダに一つあって、手仕事屋久家の庭にもあります。

Unlike real horticulturalists, I enjoy planting common plants that I’ve seen in my neighbors’ gardens. This year I am convinced that Kanamemochi (Photina) is Tokyo’s best hedge. In spring the new leaves are a beautiful deep red color. Whether in a pot or in the ground, this member of the rose family, related to apple trees, grows quickly, thickly, and can be shaped easily. I have one hiding my washing machine and providing evergreen privacy between my kitchen and the neighbors outside my window. I also planted one at Kuge Crafts in order to provide separation from a pesky neighbor. Very quickly, that single plant is growing wide and creating a living fence.

Crowds visit Shinjuku Gyoen for cherry blossom viewing despite the cold

今年の新宿御苑の花見は、寒い天気なのに、木が好きな人が集まっていました。

These photos are from this year’s rather cold cherry blossom season, which meant easier access to some of the best spots. I love the difference in scale between the old trees and the people they attract. I also love how prepared the city is to manage the expected crowds of tree lovers.

Dogwood in Tokyo is understated and elegant

ハナミズキはとてもおしゃれで控えめだと思います。

Pink and white azalea in private garden visible from the street

二色のツツジが大好きです。この家で育っている花が路地から見えます。

This two color, pink and white azalea, is one of my favorite spring flowers.

Persimmon bonsai in two stages: new leaf, and early summer

この柿の盆栽の世話をするのは簡単です。今年は円形に枝を曲げました。

This persimmon bonsai has been very easy to care for, and this year I’ve pulled two branches down to the base of the trunk, creating a circular shape. Above is how it looks now at the verge of summer. Below, new leaves pushing out in March.

Balcony mint is unstoppable

ベランダのミントが止まらない！　モヒート用に、だれか新鮮のミントがいりませんか？

Does anyone need fresh mint for a mojito?

Balcony lavender surrounded by strawberry, snap pea, and roofs

来週、芝浦ハウスのコミュニティー・ハーブ・ガーデンについて話します。ハーブは味、料理、薬草、香水として使えます。都市の小さなスペースでも、ハーブは逞しく育ち、日常生活に役に立ちます。このベランダのラベンダーは東京の蝶を引き付けます。

Next week I am talking at Shibaura House’s Community Herb Garden talk event. Herbs can be used for flavor, food, medicine, and perfume. Even in small urban spaces, herbs are very tough and can be used in daily life. This balcony lavender attracts Tokyo butterflies.

Personal essay relates how my creative Tokyo neighbors inspire my balcony gardening

中野と新宿の近所の庭について、「The Plant」というスペインの雑誌に記事を書きました。インタビューと記事で、庭を作る個人的な理由を考えます。残念ですが、今のところ、記事は英語だけです。

Around this time last year I worked with film photographer Daisuke Hamada on a long article about flower pot gardens in Tokyo for The Plant, a semi-annual magazine from Spain. The article combines a personal essay about the pleasure of urban gardening and includes two interviews with my Nakano neighbors who have created public beauty with very limited space and budgets.  Some blog readers have asked for a copy, so I am attaching a PDF scan here (3 MB).

Shared Beauty: Tokyo’s Pot Gardens. The Plant, Issue #3. Fall, 2012.

Common yellow daisies are cheerful on city balcony

普通の黄色のデイジーがきれいですね。

This daisy keeps blooming. It’s super common, and very cheerful.

Snap pea flowers on balcony match clouds above cityscape

スナックエンドウの白い花と東京の雲がよく似合います。スペースの限られた庭に、スナックエンドウは、ぴったりです。

I’ve been eating balcony-harvested snap peas for the last few months. This year, I grew them from seed. They are a great choice when you have no space.

Speaking and planting at Shibaura House’s kick off event May 25 for “Community Herb Garden” project

今年も芝浦ハウスは、素敵な妹島 和世さんがデザインしたモダン文化センターで野菜やハーブを育てています。今年で二年目です。今年のテーマは「コミュニティー・ハーブ・ガーデン」です。キックオフとなる5月25日は、１３時から１６時まで、団塚　栄喜という有名な日本ランドスケープ・デザイナーと一緒に、トークイベントとハーブ・ガーデンづくりを実施いたします。定員は２０人、費用は１０００円。芝浦ハウスのサイトで、是非申し込んでください。

For the second year, Shibaura House is planting edibles in its handsome glass and steel culture center designed by Sejima Kazuyo. This year’s theme is Community Herb Garden.

I’ve been asked back for the kick off event on Saturday May 25, from 1 pm to 4 pm. I’ll be talking with one of my Japanese landscape design heroes, Danzuka Eiki (団塚 栄喜), and afterwards we’ll join the participants in planting an herb garden.

Space is limited to 20 people, so please register on Shibaura House’s site if you’d like to participate. The cost is 1000 yen. (The event is in Japanese, but I think language should not be a barrier).