During our travels to Japan, Bruce and I noticed many statues of Jizo and discovered that he is one of the most beloved of all Japanese deities because he is the protector of children, travelers and other voyagers. Several years ago, we purchased a statue of him at the San Francisco Flower Show and found a perfect spot for him in our garden.
He is on an embankment overlooking our brick walkway amidst a ground cover of ivy and containers of plumeria, hibiscus and cyclamen. A month ago, I fed the ivy with a sprinkling of Milorganite and let the spring rains work their magic. The ivy not only benefited from this fertilizer pick-me-up, but to my surprise, extended some of its tendrils over Jizo, fashioning a verdant wreath around his head. It is a perfect spring adornment for our Jizo. And whenever we pass his smiling, wreathed countenance, we feel Jizo is watching over our grandchildren, children and us, as we travel through this pilgrimage called life.
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