Feb 24, 2008

Green tea, green thumbs mark season opening

By Adria Murray / Society Columnist

In celebration of the "annual awakening of the garden" and the beginning of its 2008 season, Filoli opened its estate doors and garden gates for "The Enchanted Winter Garden" three-day special event.

On Feb. 22, guests to the Woodside estate had the chance to sit in on Asian brush painting and Ikebana floral arranging demonstrations, taste a variety of teas in the home's pantry, listen to a talk by collections curator Tom Rogers on Asian porcelains in the Filoli collection and participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

As part of Friday's series of tours, workshops and demonstrations, the day's "East to West"-inspired activities began with a tea ceremony presented by the Urasenke Foundation of San Francisco.

Foundation member Randy Weingarten explained to the crowd that the ceremony was not a demonstration and that each person in the room was an active participant in the tea ceremony.

"Please enjoy yourself," Weingarten said, "Engage with all of your senses."

Imparting the beauty and history of the tradition, the hosts also encouraged guests to understand the importance connection plays in a tea ceremony, conveyed in the words: wa, kei, sei and jaku - which mean harmony, respect, purity and tranquillity, respectively.

Every aspect of the tea was carried out in the Urasenke tradition, begun in Kyoto in the 16th century by famous tea master Sen Rikyu. Preparing the matcha-style tea was Toshiko Ueda, who whisked boiling fresh water from a coal-fired kettle with powdered green tea to create the delightfully frothy and emerald-colored infusion.

No detail went overlooked: even the kettle's lid rest was ornate and appropriately fitting for the winter garden event, featuring bamboo, plum and pine.

Christy Bartlett founded the Urasenke Foundation San Francisco in 1981 and has been continuing the Chado (way of tea) tradition ever since. Bartlett said that the study of Chado can span a lifetime, but at its simplest, "It is all about the host and the guest."

Toward the end of a tea ceremony, Weingarten said that traditionally the host will take cold water from a vessel and refresh the kettle as a sign of hospitality. "Tea people always have a kettle going," he said, "they are always ready to receive people."

Partaking in the morning tea were Betsy Warren, Mary Ellen Johnson, Mary Anne Park and Miki Ogata, who brought her infant Naema to experience this special rite.

Elsewhere on the property, patrons took in the beauty of the year's early bloomers. Dozens of varieties of camellias and magnolias, as well as milkmaids, Daphne and paperwhites were seen on the grounds and available for purchase in the estate's garden shop, which brimmed with Easter wares and decorative accessories to usher in spring.

Today is the final day of "The Enchanting Winter Garden" event, featuring family-friendly activities including flower tiara and bouquet making, a wildlife discovery hike and pot decorating and planting of California natives. Many activities are free with paid admission.

The Filoli estate and 16-acre formal garden, a National Trust for Historic Preservation property, is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from February to November.


Adria Murray's society column appears every Sunday in the Daily News. Send event information to 324 High St., Palo Alto, CA 94301 or e-mail amurray@dailynews group.com.