Japanese Gardens

We visited Portland's Japanese Gardens today, with Chris and Annie, who are members of the gardens. Once we found a route around the Rose Parade downtown and wound our way through the west hills to the gardens, we were lucky to find a parking spot right by a nice picnic area. We ate our picnic lunch, interrupted only by a brazen squirrel, who thought she'd like part of our lunch.

We ate in a grove of Douglas Fir trees.

From the parking lot we had a view of downtown Portland over the Portland Rose Garden.

At the gardens we joined a tour group and learned a great deal from the volunteer tour leader who shared information about the history and design of the gardens. Portland has a sister city in Japan, Sapporo, and the garden celebrates this relationship. The five gardens are different styles, and each has its unique atmosphere.

We especially liked the garden's various waterfalls.

Lee listens to the tour guide explain waterfalls as symbols of new life.

Annie has been to the garden often and has a favorite tree, a Japanese Lace Leaf Maple, which we visited. It's popular with other people too. On Flickr there's a group just for pictures of this tree--146 photos at last count.

Annie's red Lace Leaf Maple stands at the edge of one of the garden's largest ponds.

Annie, in the blue coat, tries to find Mount Hood, which she knows is in those clouds somewhere.

Two special exhibits were at the gardens: Sogetsu School of Ikebana Exhibition flower arrangements and weaving from Japan and from local indigenous peoples (Art in the Garden: Parallel Worlds: Art of the Ainu of Hokkaido and Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest).

We're planning to return to the gardens. There's so much to see and experience, and we had to leave to take Annie to visit the roller derby with her mom.