08/20/2026
BUILDING ON TRADITION: Time-honored techniques inspire present-day Japanese garden enthusiasts
A few years ago, James and I attended a talk by renowned Japanese gardener Shiro Nakane, who shared lessons learned while working alongside his father, master gardener Kinsaku Nakane, to restore centuries-old gardens throughout Japan.
One insight was repeated frequently: while plants change over time, a garden’s beauty endures when it is built on a strong foundation and cared for consistently. This thought resonated with us; it has guided our work since we began serving clients in 1985.
Today, Nakane continues this garden tradition around the world, emphasizing that Japanese gardens don’t remain beautiful by accident. Rather, affirms Nakane, regular maintenance, thoughtful pruning, and attentive care are what preserve their grace and character.
We couldn’t agree more.
If your garden is overgrown or has lost some of its former beauty, we’d be honored to help restore its potential.
📞 717-653-1273
Shown here are examples of the work of Kinsaku and Shiro Nakane's firm. (Photo credits: https://www.adachi-museum.or.jp/en/garden and http://citylimits.org/.../the-japanese-garden-secrets-of.../)
Gladly contributed by Betty Hanselman
Gardener's wife (& happy tag-along!)