On 10 October 2026, we celebrated 30 years of friendship between Half Moon Bay and its sister city, Kariwa Village, Japan, with the official opening of the garden I designed at Half Moon Bay Library.

When approaching the design, I wanted to think deeply about friendship and symbolism—how every plant and stone could tell the story of two places separated by an ocean, yet deeply connected.

The design begins with the Pacific: a flowing ribbon of pebbles representing the ocean, with boulders recalling the mountains of Japan and cascading Acacia cognata suggesting a waterfall spilling over the rocks. Plants cross over and mingle, gradually blurring the distinction between the two sides.

The symbolism of colour is woven throughout the planting. Green represents the enduring friendship between Half Moon Bay and Kariwa, held through the seasons in evergreen Sesleria and acacia. The blue of our California native Iris douglasiana reflects the shared sky and Pacific Ocean between us.

White, through Azaleas, Armeria and Anemone, represents purity and the respect each community has for the other’s culture. Red brings joy and celebration—quite literally running through the veins of Heuchera ‘Green Spice’, expressing the joy of this enduring friendship.

There are quieter stories in the planting too. The seed heads of Sesleria catch the coastal breeze like waves moving through Kariwa’s rice fields, a nod to the rice for which the village is known.

And finally, gold—abundance and renewal—belongs to the Ginkgo, the heart of the garden. Its distinctive leaf divides into two lobes that join into a single stem: two different places, each with its own landscape and culture, connected through one enduring friendship.

The bridge gives that connection a physical form, bringing the two sides together within this small shared space.

Seeing people from both sides of the Pacific gather around the garden and watching that story come to life was an absolute highlight. It was an honour to celebrate alongside the Mayors of Half Moon Bay and Kariwa Village, Japan’s Vice Consul, and representatives from the offices of Senator Josh Becker and Supervisor Ray Mueller.

My hope is that the garden will offer a place to pause, notice the changing seasons and reflect on a friendship that continues to grow.