The Tea House sits above the west end of the big pond.
The loss of the big Japanese maple that was at the back edge of the pond has allowed more sun to reach the water — and thus we have more lilies.
All of our water lilies are hardy and either white or yellow flowered.
The upper pool nestles next to the Tea House.
By this point in the summer it is filled with the flowers and foliage of Sagitaria latifolia.
A stepping stone path crosses between the upper pool and the beginning of the stream and waterfalls.
The path across the water links the Sacred Grove and the Tea House gardens.
The stones are wet because birds stand between them and drink, wash and generally splash about.
Mark and Jon Adams-Kollitz, the young man who helped him build the ponds and stream, worked hard to achieve the perfect sound of rushing, bubbling water.
This area has always been a planting problem since you need to walk here as you step off the path across the stream. I planted this combo of ground covers last summer and it is the first grouping that has not only survived but thrived.
This area still has some of its earliest plantings I made in the garden, though many others have come and gone over the years.