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The Grapevine Magazine September 2003 Issue No 183
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As the wonderful summer draws to an end, we're all ready for the start of the Autumn term at Krakatoa. We have a number of new children starting this year, and welcome them and their families to Krakatoa and wish them all a very happy time with us. Our topic for this half-term is Nursery Rhymes, which is a great favourite with us all. We are intending to have a regular music session this term too, which we hope will be on-going and will certainly add to the theme. At the time of writing, we are still waiting for the delivery of fencing for the outside area - but it is in hand and should be erected soon. With a bit more of a fund-raising drive we hope to have a child-friendly surface too! To get off to a flying start we are holding our second ferret-racing evening on Friday 12th September. This was a huge success last year and great fun. To ensure you don't miss out on a great evening contact Morag Bowie (01844 281752) or Charlotte Rose (01844 353743) for a ticket. Numbers are limited, so get a group together and come along for a riotous evening. To ensure the continued success and growth of Krakatoa we still desperately need a supervisor and assistant - for 2-3 mornings a week. For any enquiries about these positions (and also for waiting list/general enquiries) please contact Penny McCulloch (01844 353727).
Something Unusual - Turning Japanese If you want to create a garden with a Japanese feel, the style you are looking for is simple, subtle and natural (but never untidy!) with features discreetly placed with their surroundings. Planting is predominately green. There are few flowers in a Japanese garden, the exception being camelias, flowering cherries and wild flowers. Keep the design of the planting simple and choose plants native to Japan. Opt for trees and shrubs in muted, rather than bright, greens. Small low-growing bamboos such as Shibataeas and elegant Fargesias, as well as Acers and Pieris, help create the look. The addition of Japanese cedars (Crytomeria), Cypress tree (Chamaecyparis), graceful grasses (Miscanthus) and ferns complete the picture. Once planted, surround them with pebbles or slate. Water is a key feature, particularly moving water. The look should be as natural as possible. Water in a rill, running over cobble-stones, would be perfect, particularly if it gives the impression of a bigger stream or waterfall, and if the stones look weathered and mossy. Stone is also a vital element. Use it for pathways and stepping-stones, for mulch, and for accessories like statues and lanterns. Bamboo, of course, shouldn't be left out. It gives an immediate impression of the orient, and it can be used for water features, chimes, lanterns and screens. Like everything else keep it discreet and natural! Make sure, for instance, that your bamboo screens blend in with the surroundings both within and beyond the garden. And, if you have a view, try to 'bring it into' the garden. Japanese design is all about attracting, improving, and borrowing from nature, and fortunately this can be achieved on any scale. You can create it in a small space with a specimen plant, slate mulch and a simple stone lantern as a focal point. More ambitious plans might feature a Japanese tea-house - subtly shielded of course, and never centrally placed!
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