Spirited Stone: Lessons from Kubota's Garden

by Gemina Garland-Lewis (Photographer), Thaïsa Way (Foreword), Jamie Ford (Contributor)

Foreword and short story by National Book Award Winner Charles Johnson Introduction by Thaïsa Way, PhD Short story by New York Times Best Selling Author, Jamie Ford Academics, novelists, poets, and garden enthusiasts examine the legacy of immigrant and nurseryman Fujitaro Kubota, whose unique gardens transformed Seattle's regional landscape in the 20th century. A self-taught gardener, Kubota built a thriving landscape business, eventually assembling 20 acres in south Seattle that he shaped into a beautiful and enduring Japanese garden. Today, this public park serves one of Washington’s most diverse zip codes. An innovator and artist, Kubota created the first “drive-through” garden to capitalize on America’s love for the automobile. While incarcerated at Minidoka prison camp during World War II, Kubota also created a memorable garden in the desert. To Kubota, everything has spirit. Rocks and stones pulsed with life, he said, and that energy is still apparent in his gardens today. Photographs by Gemina Garland-Lewis and Nathan Wirth are interwoven with original poetry by Samuel Green, Claudia Castro-Luna, and others to make this a unique book where every page presents a different view of Kubota’s garden.

220 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2020

Reviews

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kubota Garden began over 90 years ago as the family home, plant nursery, and landscaping business of its eponymous family. It has since become one of Seattle's most beautiful and inspiring parks, serving a neighborhood as diverse as the plants and vistas it contains. This lovingly curated book tells the history of the area's Japanese-American community through a detailed exploration of Fujitaro Kubota's life and work.

There are over 200 pages of photographs, poems, essays, and other explanatory texts, most provided by local writers. Those contributions that are straightforward, thoughtful discussions of historical, cultural, and botanical aspects of the Garden are the most powerful. Among the best are those from Glenn Nelson, Anna Tamura, Kentaro Kojima, Betsy Anderson, and Jeffrey Hou. The introduction by Thaisa Way is also lovely. I was less enamored of the creative writing pieces supplied by a few award-winning authors of fiction.

The book's imagery is more of a mixed bag. Historical photographs - and facsimiles of important documents - are excellent and quite helpful. At least half of the more recent photography is captivating. However there are also disappointments, and the quality of some reproductions is poor. The original black-and-white images of "Silence" from Nathan Wirth must have been stunning, but they are so oversaturated here that one cannot really see them. I believe they show the garden in winter but I honestly can't be certain. Most unfortunate.

Around the halfway point, it becomes clear that there is a lot of content overlap. While more careful editing may have helped to reduce that, this is also a story that needs to be told and is long overdue. Fujitaro's physical and spiritual devotion to his family, property, and community is deeply moving. The Kubota Garden Foundation - with key partners and supporters - have created this homage with similar devotion and the best of intentions. It is a fitting tribute to Mr. Kubota and the legacy sanctuary he left behind.

3.5 stars

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who visits the Kubota Garden can immediately sense how special it is, a standout among all Seattle parks. This compendium of essays, photographs and poems helps explain the unique history that brought it about. Some are naturally more informative and insightful than others, but the book overall certainly added to my appreciation of the Garden.