The Humes Garden: Strength and Flexibility

A short film focusing on the symbolism of bamboo deriving strength from its flexibility. It is one of three short thematic films supplementing the master film "garden portrai"t of the John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden in Mill Neck, NY, which was one of the first gardens selected for our Documentation Program. Created for Ambassador John Humes and designed by Douglas DeFaya, the garden is a seamless integration of Japanese landscape design with the woodland terrain of Long Island’s North Shore. 

Produced by Udris Film.


The Suzanne and Frederic Rheinstein Garden Documentation Program at the Garden Conservancy seeks to capture and to share the essence of something that is largely experiential—the beauty and stories of a garden. This presents unique challenges and requires an innovative and layered approach to create a multi-dimensional portrait of a garden, a living work of art. Our documentation program is using words and pictures, letters and notebooks, drawings and plant lists, along with stories, sounds, and experiences that have inspired garden creators. The goal is to build, over time, an online resource that brings gardens to life in a new way in an educational tool that will continue to provide important insights for years to come. 

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