I was recently given a beautiful book which has rapidly become my favourite. It's by Liza Dalby, and is called EAST WIND MELTS THE ICE. Inside cover says: "... a unique record of nature. In this beautiful journal Liza Dalby writes about the passing seasons, gardening (eastern and western), Japanese customs and a life lived between two cultures." (She's American).
She has also written a book on the kimono (I've got the book on order !), and writes dreamily about the colour combinations. For example:
"... for ladies of the Heian court, maples had another aspect as well. Among all the numerous layered color combinations of robes worn throughout the year, the most flamboyant were the momiji (maples) ensembles that came into season at the end of autumn. In these fashions, a six-robe set was layered so that each robe showed a sliver of colour at throat and sleeve.
... A set of colors named 'Green Maples' arrayed layers of acquamarine, deep yellow, pale yellow, gold, pink and maroon.
The most riotous of all was 'Mixed Maples', in which each robe also had a lining of a different color. The top aquamarine robe had a pink lining, then came a pale blue with a pink lining. Next was a dark gold with a pale gold lining, worn over an amber robe with a pale yellow lining. Underneath everything was a pink robe with a pale yellow lining. I would love to have seen this outfit. It would only be rivaled by the maples turning colour now in northern California."(P211)
Yesterday I went to my favourite gardens, CLOUDEHILL in the Dandenong hills. Had I written those words, I could have written: "It would only be rivalled by the hydrangea turning colour now in Melbourne ."
