The Japanese Garden of Peace had a smaller turnout in June, but the eight Friends who came along made every hand count. The weather helped — dry and pleasantly warm through the day, climbing into the mid-twenties without ever tipping into the kind of heat that makes heavy pruning a chore. June's run of warm, wet spells had sent growth surging across the garden, so there was plenty waiting for us. We were also joined by a newcomer, a young Japanese horticulturist whose expertise we put to good use straight away.
Bamboo | Reclaiming the cloud-pruned canes
June's mix of heat and rain had made the bamboo explode. Fresh culms had shot up and completely swamped the old cloud-pruned canes, burying the careful silhouette we maintain. Restoring it took some patient work: thinning the new growth and reshaping the grove back to its proper cloud-pruned form.
We deliberately kept removal of the young canes to a minimum. Established canes are still being lost to occasional vandalism, and we want to protect the density of the grove for the years ahead — so wherever a new cane could stay without spoiling the shape, we left it.
Tree bases | Suckers back again
The suckers were back. The vigorous shoots that spring up around the base of several trunks had all regrown since we last cleared them, so it was a case of cutting them away once more to keep the bases clean.
Main gate | A clearer view, with expert hands
The main gate saw the biggest change. With the expert help of our new horticulturist, we pruned back the dead sections that had become more obvious across the trees — the see-through effect through the gate is now really clear, and it looks all the better for it.
We took out more of the low bamboo that was plainly dead and shaped what remained into a tidy line along the railing. The laurel on the left of the gate had its top brought down to a flat, even profile, and we thinned some of the larger branches that had been crossing and colliding into one another. The laurel had also pushed out a flush of new growth in response to last month's harder cut, so we cleaned that back and cleared the bramble and other invasive species that had worked their way into the middle of the shrub.
Beds opposite the playground | Clearing years of overgrowth
The beds and trees opposite the playground had gone a long time without real attention, and it showed. We cut back a lot of overgrown, self-seeded plants and weeds, then worked along the trees removing the low growth from the base of the trunks that had been making the area look messy. It was slow going, but the difference is worth it: the space is far easier on the eye, and you can see through it properly again.
We also took down a few branches hanging too low, at head height. One passing mother asked us to deal with one her daughter kept walking into — which we were glad to sort on the spot. We'll be back next month to check whether anything else needs attention.
Into the pond | Bindweed, the bridge, and duckweed under control
We opened with the usual litter pick — a bit more than normal to gather, but still a quick job — before turning to the water. Bindweed came away easily from the water's edge, and we cleared the area by the bridge, where water plants tend to build up, disrupting the flow and backing up surface debris.
Along the streams we lifted a little duckweed and weed, though not much was needed. For the third year running we're working with the Council to add beneficial bacteria to the pond, which compete with the duckweed for the same nutrients and keep it very firmly in check.
Thanks | A productive June at the Japanese Garden of Peace
A smaller group meant a smaller haul of green waste — around ten ton bags — but that number undersells the effort. Reclaiming the cloud-pruned bamboo is painstaking, high-effort, low-volume work, and it took up a good share of the day.
Our thanks to everyone who came along, and a warm welcome to our new horticulturist, who slotted in immediately. We'll also be saying a temporary goodbye to our two youngest regulars from a nearby Japanese school, who head home to Japan for the summer holidays — we wish them a wonderful break and look forward to welcoming them back in September.
