My trip to the Portland Japanese garden was a little late for maximum autumn color on the trees, but it was a beautiful outing and I thought I'd share it for Foliage Follow-up this month.
From the website..."Proclaimed the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan, the Portland Japanese Garden is a 5.5-acre haven of tranquil beauty nestled in the scenic west hills of Portland, Oregon." Evidently that proclamation was made by the former Ambassador of Japan to the United States Nobuo Matsunago.
Unlike the Seattle Japanese Garden that I visited a few weeks ago, this garden is full of steps and changes in grade. For me the hardscape was almost as interesting as the plants, a fact you'll see represented in the photos I took.
Once you pass through the entrance gate near the parking lot you walk up a steep pathway to the actual garden entrance. This scene was off that pathway. It was so "Pacific Northwest" that I had to snap a picture.
Now we are in the garden itself, hope you enjoy your visit...
For links to all the Foliage-Follow up fun visit Pam's blog Digging...
Wow, a stunning garden! Special thanks for including a photo of their koi :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like this garden is a must see when visiting Portland...
Yes of course, I thought of you guys when I took that shot!
DeleteGosh!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely garden! Friday night plant porn Japanese style! Ha, ha ;)
I would agree about the hard landscaping being first class.
Shot 135 is my favourite.
Glad to have come through for you! Yes 135 was on of my favorites too, I thought about leading with it but also like to kind of take readers through the garden the way I discovered things...
DeleteHoly Portlandia! I think I'm going to just go through all your pics over and over to see the movement of the paving and the leaves...this is intense juxtapositioning. I almost forgot about plants like cacti and sotols for a moment...
ReplyDeleteJust for a brief moment though right? (glad you enjoyed)
DeleteI really wish people would stop posting photos of this place. It is so lovely, but so far away.
ReplyDeleteMuch more densely-planted than the Japanese garden at Missouri Botanical Garden. I want to go!
Guess you'll just need to plan a vacation sometime!
DeleteAwesome post...I think shot 114 is one of my faves...and really shows how they blend materials there. It's always interesting just how different the fall color is there from year to year.
ReplyDeleteAt first I was kind of bummed about not getting myself there a little earlier but you know, in the end it was perfect.
DeleteI love your hardscape oriented focus - Makes me want to visit the PJG even more! Beautiful! The PNW shot made me smile - so pretty.
ReplyDeleteNext time you're in town...
DeleteYou have captured the spirit of this place. Except that you left out my favorite part (the Sand and Stone Garden), this is beautifully descriptive of the garden. I like the way you honed in on the way the materials interface - it's what this garden does exquisitely.
ReplyDeleteBut wait...isn't that the 10th photo from the top? If not then please tell me where this part is as I've been missing it!
DeleteThis was only my second visit to the garden and I must say it was magical.
#10 is a different garden - the one with the sake gourd and cup planting (signifying pleasure!) but I don't know what it's called. The Sand and Stone garden is in the southeast part of the garden at the bottom of a winding path, and you come up from it on a lot of stairs.
DeleteOf course! Thank you...I completely forgot about that area since I was practically forbidden to see it by a line up of photographers with tripods. As close as I got was #119, I loved the detail on the wall. Thanks Jane!
DeleteWow, you're right--that hardscape is amazing! I need to look down more often. I can't believe the way they carved that wooden plank to perfectly match the jagged stepping stone.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am pretty aware of hardscape I think I was particularly tuned in that day because of the falling leaves all around me. They kept telling me to look down!
DeleteStill quite a bit of color, but I love the way you focused on the details (like the way the wood planking is cut away to follow the shape of the stone. Those Japanese gardeners are really something!
ReplyDeleteThe tail end of autumn is such a poignant season.
Yes it really is. I keep wondering when our hard freeze will come and finish things off. Not that I'm wanting it to of course.
DeleteMy favorite public garden, anywhere. Thanks for a lovely post. I was there last year at the very beginning of November, and the foliage color was stunning.
ReplyDeleteI thought of you as I was wandering the paths Gerhard. It is a beautiful place and even though the plants aren't necessarily my thing I appreciate the skill and craftsmanship that went into the design as well as the work done to maintain it all. It made me proud to be a Portlander!
DeleteJust breathtaking! The attention to detail is amazing and the choice of materials is simple but speaks volumes. I wonder how people walk those paths and don't notice all those textures.
ReplyDeleteThe details and materials are first rate indeed, I will need to go back in the spring to see if all the spring green takes my focus away from the details.
DeleteHow zen of you! That is sooo PNW!!!! And I LOVE IT! As much as I complain about our cold, about our rain, and about pretty much everything that prevents my from growing tropicals and desert subtropicals, I really really do love the PNW. Thanks for that reminder.
ReplyDeleteYou are oh so welcome, we are pretty lucky to live where we do...
DeleteThe hardscaping has a homemade look, doesn't it, with all the mismatched materials. I really like it, especially that staircase. I've really enjoyed your Japanese garden visits this fall -- I must remember that's a great time to see such gardens, in all their maple-leaved glory.
ReplyDeleteIf not exactly homemade then at least something easily replicated at home, great point Pam.
DeleteSo gorgeous, especially as captured by your brilliant eye...
ReplyDeleteHa, brilliant...you're funny.
DeleteA wonderful garden captured at the perfect time of year. I enjoyed your views as if we were walking and looking at the big picture and details along the way.
ReplyDeleteImpressive the ambassador thought these gardens were the most authentic outside Japan.
Thank you, that's exactly the feeling I was going for!
DeleteI can totally see why you found the hardscape so fascinating. I love that shot of the steps that are a combo of stone and slab. And all the different edging ideas are great too. Doesn't really matter that you were a little late for the peak foliage display. You captured some really wonderful pictures.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alison, there were so many wonderful details to capture!
DeleteWhat a wonderful collection of photos of that garden.
ReplyDelete