Stoneworks GardenKeepers' year, 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027

WisteriaIrisLotus at dawnMoon-viewing
Stones re-set Bridge re-pointed Pond liner Persimmon grove in fruit Maple lanterns Closed, pond cleared

Every visit crazes the glaze.

2,003 visits by 286 keepers since the year opened on 1 April. Each one is a crack in this glaze, set on its day at the hour the keeper came through the gate. The smooth glaze is the part of the year still to come.

Tuesday 29 September, 14:10. Eleven keepers in so far today.

Tap the reader at the west or pond gate, or here.

Persimmon grove in fruit since 22 Sep

This week at the gates

The same glaze, closer. Here each crack is one keeper's visit, set at the minute they came in. A day with no cracks is a day nobody came.

  1. Wed 23 SepPersimmon grove, second day in fruit

    10visits

  2. Thu 24 SepRain all day. The gates were open; nobody came.

    0visits

  3. Fri 25 SepMoon-viewing, lanterns until 21:00

    10visits

  4. Sat 26 SepFirst keeper in at 7:43

    16visits

  5. Sun 27 SepEarly-light hour: first keeper in at 6:00

    23visits

  6. Mon 28 SepMoss terrace raked; paths shut until 9:00

    12visits

  7. Tue 29 SepSo far. The rest of today is still smooth.

    11so far

Reading the glaze

Crazing darkens as a pot is used and tea works into the cracks. Here a crack darkens with its age: April's are iron, this week's are still pale, and today's are white.

MonthStainVisits
April335
May422
June374
July295
August308
September, to yesterday258
Today, so far11
Since 1 April2,003

May was the busiest month, with the wisteria and its lantern evenings; the busiest day was Sunday 10 May, with 45 visits. The crazing above 6:00 in July is lotus mornings, and the islands after 19:00 are lantern evenings.

Staples are repairs

  • 12 and 13 May: stepping stones re-set on the moss terrace.
  • 6 to 10 July: arched bridge re-pointed and the pond gate shut. 23 visits in five days.
  • 25 August: pond liner patched.

The mark copies the Bakōhan, a thirteenth-century celadon bowl sent back to China in the 1400s to be replaced. It came home held together with iron staples.

Nothing on this page is drawn by hand. Every crack is a visit logged at a gate, and the glaze stays smooth until someone comes.