Anti-imperialism lives on in Webster Groves. This is same house in my neighborhood seen here about a week ago flying the Ukraine and Canadian flags. There was a change yesterday. Now the nearer one is the flag of Greenland. Recognize it? I wonder where the homeowner found one.
From the walkway on the second level of the Observatory. The white building is the home of Henry Shaw, mentioned yesterday, who founded the Missouri Botanical Garden. The wedges of green on the right will be full of flowers in a few days.
The land that became the Missouri Botanical Garden was originally the estate of Henry Shaw. He was the son of a steel manufacturer in the British Midlands and was sent here in the 19th Century as an agent. He settled in St. Louis and made a fortune, using some of his money on his hobby as a keen amateur botanist. He built an octagonal tower, an observatory, to view his domain. This building is a reproduction but faithful to the original design.
A Japanese garden would not be complete without a koi pond. Siewa-en has a pretty good size artificial lake but the koi population stays in one corner. That’s probably because there is a bridge where visitors throw them something to eat. (Given local business connections, maybe it’s Purina koi chow.)
The Japanese garden has a small island containing a tea house. You may notice that the bridge is barred. The tea house is open only for special occasions and can hold a small number of people. Makes me think of the time we were at a tourist tea ceremony in Tokyo and stiff-jointed Western me couldn’t come close to sitting in an appropriate position. They didn’t kick me out.
Back to the wonderful Missouri Botanical Garden. This is part of the Japanese Garden, called Siewa-en, garden of pure, clear harmony and peace. I wish the theme was more accurate.
A house in my neighborhood. Perhaps a sign of the resistance. I hope so. After yesterday, our retirement investments have lost 10% since Trump’s inauguration, and they are cautiously managed.
