flowers
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Culture Spotlight: China Trip Chapter 1—Suzhou Gardens Behind the Scenes
This special edition of Culture Spotlight will be a four-part series sharing takeaways from a recent trip to our sister city, Suzhou. Enjoy! I’m writing to you just days before Thanksgiving,
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Culture Spotlight: These are not your grocery store mums
I’ll be honest—I didn’t always get the hype about chrysanthemums. That changed the first autumn I worked at Lan Su Chinese Garden. I walked into the garden one crisp morning and found myself surrounded by chrysanthemums in every imaginable form…
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Culture Spotlight: No Kicks, Just Cups: The Joy of Gong Fu Tea
When people hear Gong Fu, their minds often jump to martial arts, but here there are no flying kicks involved. In the world of tea, gong fu (功夫) means “skill through effort.” It’s not about combat, but about care: The art of brewing tea with patience, focus, and heart. Every pour is a gentle reminder…