White azaleas on the verge of blooming at a cardiology clinic in Suzuka, Mie. What does seasonal greenery contribute to a space where people come to be cared for?

Borage produces star-shaped flowers in a blue so distinctive it was used as the reference color for the Virgin Mary in Renaissance painting. It is also edible, medicinal, and easier to grow than most herbs.

Phalaenopsis orchids are the default celebration gift in Japanese business culture. The preference for 3 or 5 stems has roots older than the flower itself.

Muscari looks like a cluster of tiny grapes in purple-blue. Plant the bulbs once in autumn, and they return every spring — for years, without replanting.

Hon-shakunage is the only rhododendron native to Japan's mountains. When it flowers in a garden, it carries something of the mountain environment with it.

A 2009 Science paper revealed the aerodynamic secret of maple seeds. The same principle appears in dronedesign and ceiling fans. Here is what the garden tree outside your window has figured out.

Small as a coin and bright as summer, sanvitalia blooms continuously from June through November. A beginner-friendly annual that asks for little and gives a lot.

Nemophila transforms fields into oceans of blue each spring. Here is what makes this delicate American native so beloved in Japanese flower parks — and how to grow it at home.

Five warning signs that a tree poses a fall risk — and why acting before typhoon season matters. A field guide from a Mie Prefecture tree care specialist.

Just seeing trees through a window has measurable benefits — shorter hospital stays, reduced amygdala activity, and improved wellbeing in care settings. Here's what the research says, and why tree maintenance matters beyond aesthetics.

Henon bamboo flowers only once every 120 years, then dies. Discover the science, ecology, and cultural significance of this rare phenomenon witnessed in Mie Prefecture, Japan.

On July 28, 2025, Sentei-ya Sora attended the on-site inspection for the “Kameyama City Biodiversity Coexistence Area Certification.” This program, launched in 2023, designates and supports areas of high biodiversity value within the city. On this day, we had the honor of guiding staff from Kameyama City’s Industry & Environment Division and the official certification reviewers through the bamboo forest at Hōin-ji Temple. Although slightly nervous, it was a valuable opportuni

(July 12, 2025 – Trail Camera Footage) On July 13, 2025, a trail camera set up beside an artificial nest box at the exhibition garden “Green & Smile Sanpo-michi” in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture, captured the breeding behavior of Great Tits (Parus minor). Only a few days earlier, incubation was confirmed. The footage now revealed that the parents had entered the full-fledged chick-rearing stage. Location: Sanpo-michi Exhibition Garden, Suzuka City, Mie, Japan Equipment: Trail c

This year, Sentei-ya Sora carried out the annual garden maintenance at the wedding venue Yokkaichi Harbor Onoe Villa in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture. Work Process We began with manual weeding and fallen leaf cleaning. Nearly half a truckload of leaves was collected and disposed of. , we performed pesticide spraying on the Ternstroemia (Mokkoku), applied herbicide around the entrance and enclosed spaces, and carefully treated other necessary areas as well. Seasonal Highlights Ami

A number of distinguished Japanese gardens scattered across Mie Prefecture have been officially recognized as part of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s Garden Tourism program — collectively known as the “Ise Province Garden Trail” (Ise no Kuni Oniwa Kaidō). This initiative is a valuable opportunity not only to share the beauty and history of Japanese gardens rooted in local culture, but also to carry forward the traditions of Japanese landscape arc

Straw wrapping was done on a pine tree at Onoe Villa in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture. Komomaki, a traditional technique combining deep cultural significance and technical sophistication, is a wintertime tradition in Japanese gardens with a history of more than 400 years. Developed in daimyo's gardens since the early Edo period (1603-1868), this technique has been part of the “cultural landscape,” where the practical purpose of protecting pine trees and the uniquely Japanese aest

Artificial Nest Cave Project We at Pruner SENTEIYASORA the installation of artificial nest caves to make your garden a more natural and healthy space. An artificial nest box imitates a naturally formed hollow in a tree and provides a nesting site for birds that breed mainly in tree hollows. Compared to artificial birdhouses made from sawn lumber, these birdhouses are made from the trunks of logged trees, so they are more similar to natural tree cavities. In recent years, the

The relationship between the Japanese people and bamboo dates back as far as the late Jomon Period. For nearly 3,000 years, bamboo has been deeply rooted in our culture and lifestyle. The importance of bamboo can be seen in the descriptions of its use in the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters) and Nihonshoki (Chronicles of Japan). However, due to rapid postwar economic growth and lifestyle changes, bamboo forests have been abandoned in just half a century, causing new environ

Conservation of Insect Diversity in Urban EnvironmentsConservation of biodiversity is a major issue in today's increasingly urbanized society. In particular, insect diversity is threatened in urban environments. Insects are an important part of the ecosystem, playing roles such as pollination and material circulation. See photo (1) below. Insects are responsible for pollinating not only the flowers and grasses we see, but also vegetables and fruits. Effects of Urbanization on

Located in Yokkaichi Port, YOKKAICHI HARBOR Onoe Villa is a restaurant that was renovated from the private residence of Kennosuke Kosuge, a prominent figure in the Meiji era. This historic building, where you can enjoy sophisticated modern French cuisine and a wedding hall, is surrounded by a Japanese garden with views of the changing seasons. Kennosuke Kosuge was a prominent figure who devoted himself to the development of Yokkaichi during the Meiji era. Kennosuke Kosuge was