Seasons
6 min read
A Year in the Moss Garden
Our gardener on why the moss is never finished, and the quiet discipline of tending something that grows a centimetre a year.
The moss garden looks as if it has always been there. It has not. Every patch was laid by hand, and every patch needs looking after — sweeping, misting, and above all patience.
Spring: the waking
In April the moss turns from a dull olive to a green so bright it almost glows after rain. This is when we repair winter damage, pressing new pieces into bare ground and watering them morning and evening.
Autumn: the falling
In November the maples drop their leaves onto the moss. We leave them for a day, because guests love them, and then sweep them away by hand so the moss can breathe.
Guests are welcome to join our gardener on a short morning walk through the moss garden — just ask at the front desk the evening before.
Words by Aya Morita
