In the last e-newsletter, we discussed plant material options for creating wavelike plant massings called okarikomi. There are a few different named forms of sheared plant material in Japanese garden vernacular; all hold unique roles in the garden. It seems appropriate we dedicate a little time defining two additional characters.

Tamamono being trained at Shin-Boku Nursery in New Hampshire

Tamamono (tah-mah-MO-no) are individual shrubs sheared into neat little rounded forms.  They are shorter than wide and have stance that gives the impression of being stable and grounded. Sometimes they are used in a garden to simulate stone escarpments in an arrangement; other times they hug stones or decorative features to highlight the object of their embrace. Another favorite use is to soften the presence of stone or sharp architectural angles.

Okarikomi at private residence in New York

Okarikomi, (OH-carry-komee) as described above, are sculpted waves of shrubs.  Upon close inspection, one finds that okarikomi is created by a series of tamamono growing together to create a single form.

Eastern Hemlock entoki

Entoki (en-toe-KAY) are tall sheared shrubs that serve an important role in the Japanese garden. They stand like sentinels. Used en masse, they create very interesting backdrops for garden scenes in the mid- and foreground. Entoki are very nice for screening, too.

I hope you enjoy searching for these different forms in the garden. Be sure to pause and reflect: what kind of emotion is being relayed to you, the viewer, as you gaze upon the various shapes and how they are being used by the gardener.  It’s a practice that stimulates a deep relationship between viewer, garden, and gardener.