This 28-minute video from NHK World is a very good introduction to the world of tsubo-niwa (Japanese courtyard gardens) in Kyoto. I've seen many while visiting Kyoto and have always been awed by what can be accomplished in such a small space. I would love to have a tsubo-niwa but, alas, it's not a possibility. Thankfully, Kyoto is only a short train ride away!

NHK WORLD: Tsubo-niwa: Life Enhanced by Quintessential Spaces

Guess the secret word! Yes, it's challenging but it's a lot of fun and you can have as many guesses as you like. So, once you make your guess, you will be given feedback on how hot or cold your word is and, from there, you continue to make more guesses. There's also a hint button. (Thank goodness for that!) A new secret word is published daily. Enjoy! (Update: The shortest number of words it took to find the secret word is 24, and the longest is 60. Some of these are challenging!)

(Thanks to LR for this, too!)

Semantle Homepage: https://semantle.com/

About 10 years ago, Kirby Ferguson's web series called "Everything is Remix" went viral. It touched on issues such as fair use and how creative works are inspired by existing works. In other words, nothing is completely original. Well, he's at it again. This time the discussion is about cultural appropriation and I think he makes some very good points. (Thanks for this, LR!)

Ever wonder what the heck a rabbit has to do with Easter? So did Tok Thompson, an American anthropologist and folklorist. Apparently, in European traditions, hares have a long symbolic history and Tok explains more in his interesting article for the Smithsonian Magazine. Enjoy!

The Ancient Origins of the Easter Bunny: www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-ancient-origins-of-the-easter-bunny-180979915/

I don't have any difficulty identifying azalea and rhododenron plants in my own garden. However, this week I visited a garden that had varieties I wasn't familiar with and I was no longer confident that I was identifying them correctly. So, I did a quick search and learned, to begin with, that while all azaleas are rhododendrons, not all rhododendrons are azaleas. Who knew?!

If you are like me and need a little help knowing the difference, I found this video to be very helpful.