An Expanse of Earth

Often visitors who admire Knowing the Spring Courtyard are astonished when they pass through the post and beam main gate with the sweeping hip ridges and hanging "lotus blossoms" to find an expanse of earth stretching four and a half acres above the Seattle skyline.  The sight can be startling.

New volunteers receiving training on the ridge top overlooking the property.

Future plans for the Garden include the Floating Cloud tower, a teahouse on a lotus pond, a stream rushing through a rocky gorge into a lake, pine and bamboo groves, and small pavilions for pausing to enjoy the tranquil scenes.  Garden designers in our sister city of Chongqing who have planned the Sichuan-style garden are eagerly awaiting the next big phase with a goal of completing the garden within five years.

President Jon Geiger grading the site nearby

Over the last few weeks board president Jon Geiger and board member Allan Chinn have been carefully grading the area for the future southern Courtyard. Although site preparation is only a fraction of the work of capital improvements, landscaping, operations and programs, it is clearly enjoyed by Geiger and Chinn as part of their committment to growing the next big phase of our project.

New volunteers at the waterside pavilion listening to Dewey Webster give his docent tour.

One of the biggest efforts comes from volunteers and our part time staff, headed by program director Julia Freimund, who keep the books, manage the office, direct the programs, and recruit and train these indispensable volunteers who have donated over 6000 hours of their time since we opened in February.

Several new efforts involve launching a Facebook community page thanks to volunteer Lee Kimmelman and a short 60-second video produced by Matt Lincoln and board member Sandy Marvinney which they entered in a nationwide competition for nonprofit organizations. One of the easiest ways you can help us is by sharing the link to all your friends on Facebook.  And if you're not on Facebook, consider joining just for this wonderful new project.  The videos of 15 semi-finalists will be posted to the Mercedes Benz site on October 3 and the public will vote on their favorite.  Five finalist winners will each receive a $25,000 grant.  I will post more about this soon!  Use the buttons below...