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Man Creates Scented Garden for Sightless Wife
12 Aug
Summary
- A husband planted flowers for his blind wife to smell.
- The garden became a popular local attraction for visitors.
- The public garden eventually closed due to maintenance difficulties.
Following his wife Yasuko's loss of sight due to diabetes complications, Toshiyuki Kuroki embarked on a remarkable endeavor to create a garden that could be experienced through scent.
Married in 1956, the couple had to alter their retirement travel plans. Kuroki began planting shibazakura, or moss phlox, around their home in Shintomi, Miyazaki, to engage Yasuko's sense of smell.
Over two decades, Kuroki cultivated approximately 4,000 square meters of the hillside with these fragrant, low-growing pink flowers. The private garden soon became a recognized seasonal attraction.
During its peak, the garden drew thousands of visitors each spring between late March and April, offering a unique sensory experience and an opportunity for Yasuko to interact with others.
By 2017, maintaining the extensive garden became too taxing for Kuroki. The property was subsequently closed to the public, marking the end of its run as a beloved local destination.
