Yesterday, we visited the botanic garden again, and because it was a certain kind of day — slightly rainy, towards the late afternoon — and because there were very few people in the gardens, we decided that we would visit the Japanese Garden, which is the crown jewel of the park.

We don’t go every time we visit the Botanic Garden, partly because it costs money — $3.50 per adult and $2.00 per child — to get in, but more because you have to have the right group of people and the right conditions to enjoy it. It’s not as fun to go to the Japanese Garden when it’s thronged with people. It’s also not fun if anyone in your group is tired, mentally or physically. You need all your senses alert to appreciate the experience.

Entering the garden through a high wooden fence and gatehouse, you look into a tree shaded valley, filled with fenced walkways, rocks, evergreens, ponds, and pagodas. You feel as if you’ve entered a mystical world of history or perfected forms. Under ideal conditions, such as were had on this visit, the garden is almost silent. You move from interest point to interest point, enjoying the water, the trees, the stones and the animals which include squirrels, blackbirds, and koi.

Feeding the koi is something kids appreciate the most. The koi, some of which are over 2 feet long, come to the surface of the ponds, opening and shutting their round mouths for food you buy (just 25 cents) from a dispenser. Children delight in throwing food into the throng of fish and watching them flop around in the water, struggling for a tiny bite. 

The Zen Garden asks you to expand your imagination and try to "reach" for the world of ideas. The viewer looks at the patterns in the sand, and imagines a river.

The Karesansui (I’ve always heard this called a Zen garden) is another important attraction. You walk up onto a wooden deck and make your way around the carefully raked white gravel in the garden, which is shaped to resemble a river. Depending on how long you are able to stay in contemplation, you may have more or less of a feeling of detachment from worldly cares, a kind of acceptance of the idea that all is not as it appears.

There’s plenty more to see (a map brochure offered by the gate lists 19 areas of interest). The entire visit takes about an hour, longer only if you like to sit and contemplate, which wouldn’t be the case if you were me, and had small children to watch.

Photocredits: Flickr Creative Commons, JoshBerglund19