Wednesday, February 25, 2015

2014 - Garden Bloggers Fling - Portland Japanese Garden

Our first stop on the second day of the 2014 Garden Blogger's Fling was at the Portland Japanese Gardens. It was another warm, sunny morning so the photography was a challenge again. Thank goodness for Photoshop.

1_wisteria_entrance

2_maple_forrest

3_waterfall

4_garden_gate

5_fountain_well

With the challenging light, I stuck to the shadows and focused on the details. And of course those wonderful details were plentiful in such a well-designed Japanese garden.

6_well_fountain7_pretty_fence_detail8_stone_water_fountain9_caution

Just as at the Lan Su Chinese Garden, I really enjoyed the pathways. While the Chinese Garden paths were composed of intricate stone mosaic patterns, the Japanese walkways appeared much more natural and embracing of the imperfect. The Chinese garden paths are all about pattern and geometry while the Japanese paths exemplify the concept of wabi-sabi, or that of embracing imperfection. I have to say I enjoy both styles equally.

10_path111_path212_path313_path414_path515_path6

16_path7

17_path8

20_path_edging

Other constructed elements were beautifully integrated into the landscape - from the tree-framed gravel garden to the simple linear bench perched upon a rock wall.

23_wood_bench18_bridge19_tea_house22_stone_garden

21_stone_garden

Even natural parts of the landscape like the ponds and plants benefit from a bit of human touch such as some well-placed rocks or smoothly clipped azaleas. Even though Japanese gardens are high maintenance, those that maintain the gardens respect the wildness of nature and attempt to allow us to see that wildness more clearly by offsetting the perfect with the imperfect.

24_pond

25_pines_maples_azaleas

26_pines_maples_azaleas

That contrast creates a beautiful tension at the Portland Japanese Garden.