This weekend, I went to the Akimatsuri (Fall Festival) at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens with Alyssa from In the Wabe. Despite gross weather on Friday and Saturday, Sunday was luckily sunny (almost too sunny, actually) and perfect for our trip. I already posted a ton of photos that I took during the Spring Festival, and since autumn and spring are very similar in Texas, many of the photos I took proved too redundant to post here. So check out the old entry for more!
During this trip, we managed to catch a tea ceremony demonstration. For those who saw my Tea Ceremony post last March, you may notice a difference in décor (see photo below). In Japan, household decorations and tableware are rotated with the seasons; in fall, the color palette of flowers and scrolls is much more subdued.
The koi fish were as large as ever – some of them are seriously as big as my dog!
I saw a few of these trees around that I don’t recall seeing last time, and I can’t find anything on the web about them (mostly because I don’t know what to search for)! Does anyone know about these trees that grow towards the ground?
Finally, we saw the Taiko drummers (Mark and I missed them in the Spring)! Taiko drumming is as much about the drums as it is about the drummer’s body movement – so watching them perform was really a show. And the drums are so baritone, I could feel it all the way in my core!
EDIT: Alyssa has uploaded her photographs here – and they turned out incredibly well, so don’t forget to check them out! ♥
October 26, 2010 at 7:46 am
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absolutely stunning. i’m obsessed with all things japanese, so just loved this post.
Pingback: Fall Festival at the Japanese Botanical Gardens « In the Wabe
October 27, 2010 at 1:18 am
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We had such a great time with you and Mark! Next time you’re craving crepes, you’re welcome here ;)
October 28, 2010 at 12:04 pm
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I love Taiko drumming! I’m sure it was the same here at the festival but in Japan I remember (though I was only a little girl and so that probably distorts things) the streets literally vibrating with their stomping and drumming during the marches. SO cool.
<3<3<3
October 31, 2010 at 3:15 pm
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re: tree. Here where I live young Morus plants are uprooted, and then replanted with their roots up. If you trim and upkeep them properly, they appear to be growing towards the ground. They don’t look like the tree you’ve photographed, though. I know some bonsai are cultivated to have the same tendency — but again, I’m not sure.
This tree’s crown does seem to resemble a root system, though.
Beautiful photographs, as always!