Honbu Construction Soke Kevin Pell June 2004 The construction of Honbu continues to move forward at an ever alarming rate, during these last couple of Months, hundreds of tones of top soil and weathered limestone have been used to landscape the top end of the Japanese gardens nearest the house. Derek our Japanese gardening expert, and resident gardener has already started to transform the gardens with masses of Japanese plants, ferns, grasses and trees including three very beautiful cherry blossoms leading down to the tea house. Paul Lincoln renovating the old well on Honbu's new patio One of many dumpa-loads of top soil used on the top gardens. In excess of eighty tonnes have been used in total Honbu's now completed and much admired waterfalls This Month has also seen the completion of the rock lagoon which is to house the outdoor hot spa later this year. The patio area has now moved forward leaps and bounds and should be completed by late July. I hope you enjoy the following photographs and captions to help keep our more distant friends up to date with the ongoing development of this truly unique Dojo and it's beautiful surroundings. Mr. Derek Archer, Honbu's Japanese gardening expert admiring his handiwork Weathered limestone being rolled the lawn Another big rock is rolled onto the lawn in preparation of the turf being layed Turf being layed onto the raised walled gardens The rock lagoon which will house the outdoor spa, is now taking shape With the new lawn freshly layed, the builders can now add the snow lantern