Tomeishi: How to make a Stop Stone

Our senior gardener Pete Putnicki presents how to make a stop stone (tomeishi) that the Seattle Japanese Garden uses to request our guests to refrain from entering the closed area. Traditionally Tomeishi is used in a Japanese tea garden to ask not to enter from the spot that the stone was put. It is a gentle reminder to respect each other in a garden.
The message from Pete Putnicki.
“Living with the Covid 19 pandemic, we are acting under the best available evidence to share the garden experience safely. As part of that act of care, we have chosen to close off paths that would create chances to safe social distancing. In addition to more overt physical barriers & signs, we are including these: Tomeishi, also called Sekimori Ishi, stop stones. Used for centuries in tea garden, these simple stones, tied with a string, indicate that a path is closed, or that a way is not accessible. By using these more subtle indicators, we are inviting our guests to share in creating the best outcomes, to share in caring for the garden. This involves trust and communication, it involves engaging with the garden on a deeper, more personal level. We hope that you take the time to share your attention and share in being part of our garden. The Seattle Japanese Garden is more than the rocks, plants & water. It is the community of people that make it the unique treasure that it is.”
Thank you!
Check out our website for more information about our timed ticketing entry to the garden under Covid 19:
Seattle Japanese Garden
www.seattlejap...