The Serenity of a Japanese Garden

by | Nov 8, 2015 | Culture, Gardens, photography | 35 comments

IMG_0733When you walk under the red lacquered torii gate and enter the Japanese Garden at Butchart Gardens, you step into a world that seems far removed from the flashy, showy gardens behind you.

No wonder. The aesthetic of a Japanese garden is a far cry from that of a Western garden. Our gardens are meant to amaze. Theirs intend to inspire meditation and peace.

When my sister and I visited the main part of Butchart Gardens this October, the first thing we saw after descending into the sunken garden was a huge bed of tightly-packed rose-colored chrysanthemums. “Wow!” I shouted, pulling out my iPhone to take a picture. What else could one do with a splash of color so bright and amazing.

IMG_0704A few steps farther we were dazzled by a bed of bright yellow mums … and on and on to the pink begonias and the row of multi-colored dahlias that elicited so many oohs and aahs, so much picture-taking and posing.

IMG_0749By contrast, walking into the Japanese garden made me want to slow down. To stand and contemplate the lily pond. To listen to water whispering over the rocks.

IMG_0730The landscape of a Japanese garden creates an illusion of nature—nature tamed and miniaturized. The best parts of nature. Everything in it is real, but each element is carefully chosen for our pleasure. The most beautiful trees, the most noteworthy rocks, the sweetest little streams and waterfalls. We walk on winding paths that lead us to the surprise of a curving red bridge.

IMG_0739We cross the water on conveniently-spaced stepping stones. We sit in a small pavilion and, feeling the garden’s serenity and inspiration, compose a haiku and commit it to memory.

This is what I remember from Butchart Garden’s Japanese Garden, although in reality, I didn’t sit in the small pavilion. My sister sat there, deleting excess photos from her iPhone.

IMG_0736The experience may not have been exactly what Jennie Butchart and Isaburo Kishida intended when they designed the garden more than a hundred years ago. Not with all the tourists blocking the paths and posing for selfies. Still, it would have been impossible not to feel the serenity of this beautiful Japanese garden.

IMG_0737And here I am, not at my most serene best.

IMG_0750

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35 Comments

  1. beeblu

    I loved this part of the garden, too, and the little hidey hole in the hedge that looks out to the bay. 🙂

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Thank you for stopping by. It was kind of Nancy to mention me on your blog.

      Reply
  2. Lani

    How I miss gardens. I wish there were some around here!

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      You must have lots of natural greenery and flowers in Cambodia. But then there are all those buildings and roads taking up space. In the Philippines, plants grow easily too, and we did have a nice little garden, but some days, driving around, it seemed that all I could see was gray.

      Reply
      • Lani

        Cambodia is green enough, but like a lot of SE Asia and developing countries, progress pushes away nature. But yes, the advantage is things grow so fast here, too.

        Reply
  3. livelytwist

    Food for thought: Our gardens are meant to amaze. Theirs intend to inspire meditation and peace. I could see this in your lovely photos. I’ll be asking myself what I want to achieve with whatever it is I’m displaying to the world.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      It’s natural for us to be concerned with how what we display to the world reflects on us. But it also may have an affect on others, to amaze or to inspire peace … among many other possibilities.

      Reply
  4. macjam47

    Such beautiful photos. I felt as though I was on a guided tour through the gardens.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      I’m delighted to be your guide, Michelle.

      Reply
  5. wheremyfeetare

    I love all the colors and description of the main garden, Nicki, but appreciate the Japanese gardens for the peace and serenity it evokes. I’d like to sit by that waterfall and listen to its soothing sounds. Thanks for the Monday morning mini meditation!

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      I find that thinking about sitting beside a waterfall is almost as good as actually doing it, especially if you’ve already had the experience. Besides, there aren’t any bugs to detract from it.

      Reply
  6. nrhatch

    Looks like a calm and soothing place . . . except for that lady bouncing over the stepping stones. 😛

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Like the kid who throws a rock into a pool, there’s always someone who disturbs the calm. Reminds me of my dad. One morning while we were camping on Baker Lake (near Mt. Baker, WA), we crawled out of our tent and looked out at the lake. The surface was a perfect mirror. What did my dad do? He jumped into our little runabout, pulled the cord on the outboard motor, and raced around the lake, messing the whole thing up. Just for the fun of it. It surprised me. I never thought of him as a troublemaker, even in small ways. I guess that perfect lake brought out the kid in him.

      Reply
      • nrhatch

        It’s great fun to let our inner child out to play! Good for you and your dad.

        Reply
  7. Mabel Kwong

    Interesting observation about Japanese and Western gardens. I so agree. It’s hard not to slow down and take your time walking around in a garden as quiet and peaceful like the Burchart Gardens. Love the chrysanthemums. Gorgeous, I’ve never seen pink ones before, only yellow ones and they make good tea. In the last photo it looks like a bit of a narrow path that you are walking on there, and looks like you have no problems balancing. Very nice you can get up close to the architecture and the fauna.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Lucky I didn’t lose my balance. I’d have been all wet for the ride back into town.

      I haven’t had chrysanthemum tea for a long time. It’s supposed to be good for inflammation and high blood pressure. Chrysanthemums do indeed come in many colors. I found a site that shows some of the varieties. It’s hard to believe there are so many.

      Reply
  8. Constance - Foreign Sanctuary

    This place looks so serene and peaceful, very ‘zen’ like indeed. There seems to be a contrast with the bright beautiful flowers and hints of autumn foliage.

    Love the last photo of you. It looks like you are having a good time.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      It makes me think of the difference between a peaceful yoga class and the loud music of a zumba class or a spin class.

      Reply
  9. Carol Ferenc

    Gorgeous photos, Nicki. It’s always a special treat to find a lovely, serene spot. Thanks for sharing this one.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      A favorite kind of Chinese garden was the Scholars Garden. It included a pavilion or patio where the scholar could sit and enjoy the garden while reading or practicing his calligraphy. I write while looking out on my patio. It’s pretty serene, even with the squirrels bustling through to hide their nuts in my pots. It’s always nice to have a room with a view.

      Reply
      • Carol Ferenc

        Your room with a view sounds perfect, Nicki.

        Reply
  10. Jill Weatherholt

    Beautiful photos, Nicki. Thank you for a wonderful tour. I especially enjoyed the last photo of you enjoying yourself.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Thanks, Jill. When I read other blogs, I always enjoy seeing a photo of the person who does the blogging. That’s why I add myself every so often.

      Reply
  11. evelyneholingue

    Japanese gardens trigger reflection and this one is particularly gorgeous. The San Francisco Japanese garden seems smaller but is beautiful too. A few years ago I discovered the Montreal Japanese garden, a true marvel. Wherever I travel I always look for the Japanese section in the botanical gardens. All, even the smallest, offer a pause for the visitor. Lovely pictures, Nicki.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      A lot of planning goes into Japanese garden design, and yet the intention is to look natural. I think we like them because we like nature–the best of nature perfected.

      Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Thank you for the link. It’s an excellent one. Since garden design was brought to Japan from China, I think you will find all or most of the same elements in a Chinese Garden. Here’s a link to a beautiful video of a traditional Chinese Scholars Garden in New York City.

      Reply
      • Traveller at heart

        Thanks for the link, Nicki.

        I have never seen a traditional Chinese Scholars Garden. That was a treat! Thank you.

        I have never been to the states. This is a nice intro to what is available in NY City. The garden is a gem!

        Reply
        • Nicki Chen

          Also I thought the explanation was very well done.

          Reply
  12. L. Marie

    Lovely photos, Nicki!

    I also saw the difference when I toured some gardens in Suzhou, China. The lovely pools with koi fish and the carefully managed grounds made us all pause to reflect.

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      The earliest Japanese gardens were influenced by Chinese gardens. To my eye the basic philosophy is the same. This link (I also shared it with Traveller at Heart) talks about the rocks taken from Lake Tai outside Suzhou. It seems they were much prized for Scholars Gardens.

      Reply
  13. autumnashbough

    I enjoyed your pictures of the bright flowers and fall foliage from last week’s post, but you make an excellent point. I never thought of the differences in purpose and how that influenced the aesthetics. I’d much rather sit in the Japanese Garden. Green, shady, and serene, with the sounds of falling water (and selfies).

    The Huntington Gardens in Pasadena are lovely, with a Japanese Garden also.

    How did you get so many photos without the tourists?

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Because Butchart Gardens is so big, it seldom seems too crowded. I did have to wait for my turn to get photographed on the stepping stones. It was a favorite spot for photos. The little waterfalls, not so much.

      Reply
  14. jjspina

    Love the photos – so beautiful and relaxing! Nice to meet you and connect. I will follow. Best wishes!

    Reply
    • Nicki Chen

      Hi Janice. So nice to connect with you. You and your husband have produced some excellent children’s books. I’m going to head on over to your blog and find out more.

      Reply

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