I've always liked the site of the Huntington's Japanese-style garden. You enter a gateway and look downwards from a Wisteria covered terrace to the garden and its iconic bridge.
The Wisteria terrace:
Across, on the other side of the gully is the Japanese style home. Essentially, they made a really wonderful garden out of a large ditch.
The Wisteria was just completing its spring bloom.
Azalea flowers add bright color; the freshly leafed out Acer palmatums are more subtle .
A handrail mimics the curving branches of a very old maple.
Lots of golden bamboo
Sago palms (Cycas revoluta) are native to southern Japan.
The existing structures were cleaned up, and repaired, and some plants were replaced.
The dry stone garden looks about the same.
Stones dropped into a pool of stones
The original Bonsai area is still there
This is a John Naka Olive bonsai:
I thought the renovation was limited to the original area, and was pleased to discover an entire new area has been developed behind the Japanese-style house, on the flat area on the far side of the gully.
We had the area almost to ourselves so it was very peaceful. Rhododendron 'Kintaiyo' provided a bit of non-green color.
The area is so new, installation of plants was still in progress
As in the recently built Chinese garden, pre-existing large trees gave the new garden a maturity it would otherwise need many years to achieve.
A pathway lined with golden bamboo led us back out of a serene and elegant woodland. The bright colors and chattering people in the rose garden were a sharp contrast.
This is one of the great things about the Huntington: all in one place are many different moods and landscapes to enjoy--besides the art in the galleries--galleries that are deliciously air-conditioned in summer, making them a great relief from the heat, even if you are not interested in paintings or manuscripts.
Fridays can be so hectic. The dreadful events going on in Boston and West, Texas the past few days have shaken us all. I hope sights from this garden bring a little serenity to your day.
A beautiful garden and so calming! Thanks, this was a great way to start Friday!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it, Outlaw.
DeleteI love that first photo -- what a view!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great place to find a bench and hang out for a few quiet hours.
There are some very nice places to sit and enjoy.
DeleteTwo visits to the Huntington and I've not made it to this part of the garden. The draw of the desert section is just too strong! Maybe next time...
ReplyDeleteWe skipped the Desert Garden this visit--last several visits we only went to the Desert Garden. Once warm weather hits it is an oven.
DeleteThat's the Japanese dry garden I want to see next visit there! Not sure if I got slides of it, last time there in '89...and that is gravel used well. Serenity for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful that there's this void, then you realize it's not really a void at all.
DeleteBeautiful garden, beutiful pictures :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Katarzyna!
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