Tropical Japan

Which bromeliad, where?, one of you asked.

We have a few at the summer house, but I meant the one in the foreground, just to the east of the torii gate we built six years ago this month for an engagement party in honor of cousins Amanda and Aon.

Time does fly.

The gate, 16 high and 16 wide, spans the break in the boxwoods between the courtyard and the summer house lawn, with raked gravel on both sides, and then a moss-floored bower of impatiens, ferns, elephant ears, caladiums, plumbago and that big, happy bromeliad on the side nearer the pool.

Only one hitch: Given the heat, the moss has taken the summer off.