“Children grow up hearing how broken the environment is . . . broken beyond repair. Plant strawberries together, make wild medicines, paint the sunrise. Show them proof that for every act of destruction, they can sow a seed, however small, of beauty.”

~ Nicolette Sowder (contemporary founder of Wildschooling)
Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& beauty-nurturing grandmother of nine)

When thinking of an artistic masterpiece, we most often think of a painting. In our world and work, though, pruning is an art form. But unlike the typical process of adding shapes and colors to a blank canvas to create a painted masterpiece, the skill of pruning lies in the taking away. Here at Hanselman Gardens, we have learned this from long years of study and practice.

Our workmanship is beautifully displayed in the carefully sculpted Japanese Black Pines we have been working on for years in our nursery and in client gardens. These Pines take far longer to craft than the average painting. In fact, years of investment are required, and no small amount of patience. A Japanese Black Pine “sculptor” must be able to see the future tree inside the uninspiring sapling–the sculpture inside the rock, so to speak–and will gradually and carefully prune until the tree takes the desired form. Since every cut should ensure the health and long-term beauty of the tree, the tree “sculptor” must take time to evaluate which branches will crowd out the others, which limbs need to be prioritized, and which head will be the one to take the tree where it needs to go. Selecting a new head for the Black Pine every couple of years is one of the most essential aspects of its pruning, so as to create the graceful windswept motion of the trunk for the desired artistic effect. While certainly an investment of years and exacting care, pruning a Black Pine can be incredibly rewarding and there can be no denying it as an art form like no other.

Submitted by Julia Kramer
Garden Care Technician (& aspiring Japanese Black Pine sculptor)

“We must teach our children to smell the earth, to taste the rain, to touch the wind, to see things grow, to see the sun rise and night fall — to care.”

~ John Cleal South African-born artist, craftsman, teacher; 1929-2007)

Shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& garden teacher)

James and I recently had a wonderful opportunity to visit several Japanese-inspired gardens in Texas, thanks to an invitation from renowned Japanese garden enthusiasts, Don Pylant and Jeanette Schelin. Over two sunny days in Austin and San Antonio, we explored two public gardens with detours to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center and a private residential garden.

On our travels, we enjoyed lively discussions about the art and philosophy behind Japanese gardens. Learning about the challenges of adapting these age-old principles outside Japan–from climate issues to finding the right materials–was eye-opening. We are grateful to Don and Jeanette for not only sharing their wisdom but also showing us the sheer dedication required to mirror the perfection of traditional Japanese gardens in the United States.

This experience has been a profound reminder of the dedication, passion, and resilience needed to bring such beauty and tranquility to life. We returned inspired and with a renewed appreciation for the intricate balance of nature and meticulous care these gardens represent. With all of our friends passionate about gardening, nature, and the calming influence of green spaces, we encourage the support of these precious environments as places of beauty that nourish the soul and bring peace to our hectic lives.

Contributed by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& grateful garden visitor)

Another of the great joys of investing in a top-notch garden is the daily delight that pours in through the window “picture frames” and waits just outside my door to refresh me in every season of the year!

I can attest to the rest I experience when I look outside and see the evergreens filling with snow or the Japanese Maples radiating their myriad shades of green as their leaves open in the spring or turn brilliant oranges and reds in the autumn. And that is just from the inside of my home. When I step outside to stroll under the flying buttresses of our Dawn Redwood cathedral, or sit on the patio and gaze across the emerald lawn through the Japanese Black Pines while I sip my morning coffee, I experience the tranquility and repose with all my senses and am refreshed.

All of this without leaving my property. No.

Several days after my beautiful, lively mother stepped into eternity, my husband hung several bird feeders outside our kitchen window: ” . . . to bring you joy and remind you of her,” he smiled when he came inside. How perceptive his gift! In the almost-25 years that have flown by since her death, I have delighted in the daily menagerie that flutters around the feeders within easy view of my kitchen and office workspaces.

And each year, as our garden grows to provide even more shelter, I am the excited observer of new varieties of feathered visitors joining the regulars at the fly-in diner. In recent weeks, we have enjoyed visits from Redwing Blackbirds, Cardinals, a Rufous-sided Towhee, Bluebirds, and a couple of Cedar Waxwings! The vivacious activity outside my windows is a daily reminder–a living memorial–of my lovely, joyous mother.

Perhaps you are grieving the loss of someone dear to your heart. May I encourage you to establish a “live” memorial in their honor–a bird feeder or two, a patch of wildflowers, a graceful tree, a flowering evergreen shrub–close by, so that each day you can enjoy vibrant beauty “in living memory” of your precious loved one?

Contributed by Betty Hanselman
(Gardener’s wife and joyful bird watcher)
With gratitude for my mother, Miriam Keener Buhr
(January 13, 1926 ~ October 6, 1999), and mother-in-law, Winifred “Joy” Hayman Hanselman (July 3, 1922 ~ December 10, 1999).