Portland’s Japanese Garden, after the color

As a member of Portland’s Chinese Garden, Lan Su, I enjoy reciprocal membership at our Japanese Garden for the entire month of November. I intended to visit earlier in the month, to enjoy the fall color, but never quite got my act together.

I had decided to take a pass for the year but then realized what I enjoy most about the Japanese Garden isn’t the plants, but the structure. Stones, pavers, fences, and maybe now with bare branches there would be more tree structure to enjoy! So we visited last week…

There is a viewpoint in the garden that affords a look at Mt. Hood. Can you see it in the distance?

Here’s a close up.

These people were being instructed on the proper way to enjoy the sand and stone garden. They were encouraged to sit or lie on the ground, nobody did.

As you can see I tend to get rather distracted by all the patterns and hardscape.

The pond wasn't frozen when we visited but it had the look of frozen water, with the needles arranged as they were.

After our walk around the Japanese Garden we decided to explore a bit more of the park, we happened upon the International Rose Test Garden as they were getting ready for the annual “wind pruning” with a few blooms still showing off.

Whoever this crazy guy was he must not have ever seen a Protea in flower!

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.