Garden Conservancy Fellow Roger Greenberg shared a fascinating story with me that I just had to share. Ever heard of the Kei Truck Garden Contest in Japan? It’s an annual event sponsored by the Japan Federation of Landscape Contractors. I’d never heard of it before, but the photos are captivating! (Photographs and story are from Collossal – a Japanese site).
The Kei truck is a tiny but practical vehicle that originated in Japan, but is now seen and used throughout Asia, where roads are narrow and space is limited. And, it turns out, they’re also used “as a canvas” for a gardening contest.
Landscape contractors from all over Japan arrive on site with their empty Kei trucks and spend hours transforming them into cargo gardens.
There appear to be no limitations on the design elements – just that a Kei truck is used as the platform. You’ll notice everything from lighting, rocks & stone material, structures & “buildings”, shoji screens, water features, and even an aquarium in one example. I find them incredibly creative!
Judges then rank the entries based on planning, expression, design, execution and environment.
Which one is your favorite?
