Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year - it brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul.

~Author Unknown

Dear [NAME],

Happy Chinese Valentines Day!  

This year, Chinese Valentines Day (also referred to as the "Magpie Festival", "The Night of Sevens" or "Qixi") will be August 16th which is the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar.  The origins of this celebration date back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD).  Since August is one of the few months without an official holiday as an excuse to celebrate, and we thought there's always room for another Valentines Day, here's one version of the origins of Chinese Valentines Day.
Once there was a cowherd, Niulang, who lived with his older brother and sister-in-law.  The sister-in-law disliked and abused him, and the boy was forced to leave home with only an old cow for company.  The cow, however, was a former god who had violated imperial rules and had been sent to earth in bovine form as punishment.  One day the cow led Niulang to a lake where fairies were bathing on earth.  Among them was Zhinu, the most beautiful fairy and a skilled weaver. The two fell in love at first sight and were soon married. They had a son and daughter and their happy life was held up as an example for hundreds of years in China.  

However, in the eyes of the Jade Emperor, marriage between a mortal and fairy was strictly forbidden.  He sent the empress to fetch Zhinu and return her to the heavens (Zhinu is the star "Vega").  Niulang grew inconsolable when he discovered his wife was gone forever.  Touched by Niulang's misery, the cow told him to turn its hide into a pair of magic shoes after it died. The magic shoes whisked Niulang (now the star "Altair") and his children to the heavens and he set off on a chase to find Zhinu.  

The pursuit enraged the empress, who scratched a wide river in the sky to separate the two lovers forever, thus forming the Milky Way between Altair and Vega.  Zhinü must sit forever on one side of the river, sadly weaving colorful clouds on her loom, while Niulang watches her from afar and takes care of their two children.  Once a year when the stars Altair and Vega are high in the summer night sky, all the magpies in the world take pity on them and fly up into heaven to form a bridge across the Milky Way so the lovers can reunite for just one night.  Even the Jade Emperor was touched, and allows Niulang and Zhinu to meet on the seventh night of the seventh moon, Chinese Valentines Day.

Please see the next section for ideas to create a secluded space for you and your valentine to gaze at the stars.

Serenity Now:  Creating an Asian-Inspired Garden or Meditation Room:

Everyone needs a space where they can just "be" to get away from the schedules and deadlines and general bustle of everyday life.  Perhaps this is a quiet corner of the garden where you can just sit and observe nature or a favorite nook in the kitchen where you can sit and write in your journal.  If you don't have a peaceful area where you can escape to for quiet reflection or meditation, we can help you create one.  When choosing your location outdoors, pick a quiet area with privacy and some shade from the hot midday sun.  Indoors, quiet and privacy are the key requirements.  Garden Accents has all the right elements to help create an Asian-inspired environment that will provide refuge from your hectic life.     

We have an amazing collection of Asian garden accents to transform any area into an incredible retreat, designed to encourage quiet contemplation and peace.  Water bowls are a wonderful way to bring the soothing sounds of running water, but can easily be tucked into even the smallest areas.  We have an extensive collection on display in a variety of sizes.  We also have a variety of wind chimes that can add a subtle melodic tinkling.  

To add subtle light in the garden or create punctuation at the beginning or end of a path, we have a great selection of traditional Asian lanterns.  These stone lanterns are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.  Each lantern shape is significant with its own special meaning. 

To help set off a secluded space, Garden Accents has a fabulous antique Chinese carved stone screen – measuring 8 x 8 feet.  We also have an extensive collection of pieces throughout our gardens and showroom to suit any scale room or garden.  

Please stop in and feel free to browse our wonderful collection of antiques and faithful reproductions.  Bring a picture of your space and we'll be happy to share our ideas with you.  If you'd like to visit a few existing gardens for additional ideas, there are many beautiful Asian-inspired gardens in our area including the Haverford College Arboretum in Haverford, PA, Shofuso at the Fairmount Park Horticultural Center in Philadelphia and the Garden of Serenity in Bethlehem, PA.  In Washington, DC, in the works is a 12-acre Classical Chinese Garden at US National Arboretum which will be complete with teahouses, pagodas and bridges.  The beauty of an Asian-inspired garden or meditation room is that it's timeless.  Choose materials and accents of the finest quality, surround them with lush well-chosen plantings in a peaceful environment, and your garden room or meditation room will provide you years of beauty and enjoyment.

Adding Motion to the Garden:

Introducing movement to the garden is an excellent way to create an interesting focal point that immediately catches the eye.  If there's an area in your garden that you'd like to draw attention to (or perhaps an area you'd like to draw attention away from), using motion will put the focus exactly where you want it. You can create movement by adding grasses that catch the slightest breeze, by adding a water feature with lots of movement or by introducing a kinetic sculpture to the garden.  Kinetic sculptures are the easiest ways to create this motion and are designed to capture and transform the gentlest breath of wind into a spell-binding display of graceful movement.  A well-designed kinetic sculpture should be just as beautiful at rest as it is in motion. We have several different types of kinetic sculpture here at Garden Accents to enhance just about any style garden.  One example is a variation of a gyroscope-within-a-gyroscope executed in copper and brass which is a work of art at repose and intriguing when revolving in all directions.  Its series of cups are similar to those found on anemometers which have been used since the 1800s to measure wind speed.  The sculpture takes on a random yet graceful spinning motion in the wind with each element independently balanced on stainless steel ball bearings for friction-free movement and a long, maintenance-free life.  The copper and brass take on a rich, old world patina when exposed to the elements and will become more beautiful with age.  If you prefer something a little more free-form, the same artist has created a piece with similar action but with vertical spiral lines and copper leaves to catch the slightest breeze.  He likens the motion to undulating seaweed moving gracefully underwater.  We think it looks a little like a dancing flame--mesmerizing!! 

If you don't have space in your garden but would like to add a little interest to your porch or patio, we have some really interesting copper "infinity" sculptures ranging from 11" to 24" in height.  These are so simple yet look so beautiful when the wind sets them in graceful spinning motion.  Again, these will withstand the elements and are built to last.