Japanese Garden Chicago Botanic Garden

Stop : Crouching Basin

Before guests enter a teahouse, they stop to perform a ritual purifying of body and soul. At a basin set low on the ground, guests must crouch, in a position of humility, in order to wash hands and rinse mouths.The basin sits in a sea of pebbles, or umi, with three flat stones in front of it: a large one for crouching and two smaller stones to hold a pail of heated water and a candle .

Japanese Garden At The Chicago Botanic Gardens

Time seems to stand still in the zen-like atmosphere of the Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden Chicago, part of the citys Botanic Garden. With half-buried, moss-covered rocks and weathered pine trees, youll feel like youve stepped back in time. Visitors love the stunning array of flowers and trees that the garden has to offer its worth going back throughout the year to see the glorious changes in color as the seasons roll on.

Address: 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022

Open: 8am to 7pm. Click here for more details.

Seattle Japanese Garden Washington

Take it easy and enjoy this green gem in the heart of Seattle, with its winding paths and pretty benches encouraging mindfulness and a sense of calm. One of the more well known Japanese gardens in the US, it is bursting with those typical accoutrements youd expect to see in a traditional garden in Japan from lanterns, bridges, Japanese maples and pretty lakes enjoy the changing seasons within this gorgeous urban sanctuary.

Address: 1075 Lake Washington Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112

Hours: From March 1, 2018. Check here for further details.

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Frequently Asked Questions And Answers

What are people saying about botanical gardens in Chicago, IL?

This is a review for botanical gardens in Chicago, IL:

“I’ve always wanted to check this place out. It’s a man-made space with a pond and a previously believe to be extinct redwood tree. The Prairie-style Fullerton gate hides the garden well. There were staff to help educate you about this hidden gem. I see why it’s popular for weddings and photoshoots.”

Reflections On The Island Beyond Your Reach

If youve visited Lightscape, you probably noticed some striking transformations at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Following the illuminated trail, perhaps you stood to admire the distant and beautiful Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden. You likely saw a lit-up island floating in the lake, and if you looked closely, you might have noticed that theres actually no way to get to that island.

Did you wonder why that is?

Horaijima, or the Island of Everlasting Happiness, represents paradisea place inaccessible to mortals, designed to be viewed and contemplated from a distance.

Ayse Pogue is a senior horticulturist at the Garden, and she oversees the Malott Japanese Garden, including the Island of Everlasting Happiness. For Lightscape, Pogue worked with the designers to ensure the lights on the island honored traditional Japanese garden principles. She provided circular patterns that resemble ripples of water, a symbol found in traditional Japanese dry gardens. The result is an ethereal effect that maintains the look and feel of a serene floating island and inspires a moment of contemplation and stillness.

One of Pogues favorite spots to view the island is from the Zigzag Bridge that links the islands of Keiunto and Seifuto . For the full effect, she recommends catching it on a foggy dayespecially in the fall.

But this unreachable island has a deeper story and meaningnamely, a quest for immortality.

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Brooklyn Botanical Garden New York

© Jason / Creative Commons, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, New York

Last but not least, dont miss the wonderful sakura at the gorgeous Japanese park in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, which from March envelop the space with its enchanting pink blush. This is one of the oldest Japanese gardens in America. Check back here to see when the flowers start to bloom this year. Surely a must for any cherry blossom or Japanese garden fan close to New York City!

Address: 990 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225

Website: bbg.org

Hours: 10am to 4:30pm Tuesday to Sunday. 8am to 6pm Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Mondays. Check here for further details.

So what are you waiting for combine the great outdoors with a little Japanese serenity at one of these beautiful sites!

Which is your favorite Japanese garden in America? Let us know in the comments below.

Postcards From Japan With Horticulturist Ayse Pogue

Recently I had the amazing opportunity to spend two weeks in Kyoto, Japan, attending the Japanese Garden Intensive Seminar offered by the Research Center for Japanese Garden Art & Historical Heritage.

The seminar began full force the day after I arrived in Kyoto after a 16-hour flight and a 14-hour time change. A sencha tea ceremony was very cleverly scheduled for our first day to combat the heavy jet lag we all felt. Ogawa Kashin founded the Ogawa school of sencha tea ceremony in Kyoto about 200 years ago. Kashin devised his own tea-brewing rituals and became celebrated as an original-minded tea master with modern ideals.

In the following days, we visited many gardens and temples and attended lectures. Itd be hard to mention every one of them in the space of this blog so I picked a few I found particularly impressive and transformative.

Kinkaku-ji Temple or Temple of the Golden Pavilion

Registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site, the pavilion takes your breath away. Tokushirou Tamane, the 82-year-old head gardener, is equally extraordinary. He allowed us into paths closed to the general public to take in the views of the pavilion and the surrounding gardens from the best angles possible. The garden and the buildings, centered on the Golden Pavilion, represent the pure land of Buddha in this world.

Gonaitei Garden, Kyoto Imperial Palace

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Portland Japanese Garden Oregon

© Jim Choate / Creative Commons, Portland Japanese Garden

Described by the former Ambassador of Japan to the US as the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan‘, this stunning urban oasis overlooks the city of Portland. Designed in 1963, it includes five different garden styles, which are designed to express serenity, tranquility and the aestheticism of nature. Immerse yourself in some Japanese culture in one of their cultural demonstrations, or take a walk through the Strolling Pond Garden.

To see more of the beauty of Portland Japanese Garden, check out our Complete Guide!

Website: japanesegarden.org

Hours: 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm to 4pm Mondays. 10am to 7pm Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm to 7pm Mondays. Check here for further details.

Anderson Japanese Gardens Illinois

Inspired directly from the Portland garden, Anderson Japanese Garden was opened in Rockford, Illinois in 1978. With its stunning beds of colourful plants, along with traditional stone sculptures and lanterns, youll feel like you are in Japan in no time. In particular, dont miss the mesmerising fall colours at this brilliant garden. There are also lakes full of the iconic koi carp, with pretty waterfalls and scenic bridges.

Address: 319 Spring Creek Rd, Rockford, IL 61107

Website: andersongardens.org

Hours: 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday. Check here for further details.

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Suiho En Japanese Garden In Van Nuys California

Otherwise known as the Garden of Water and Fragrance, the fundamental style of the of the Suiho En Japanese Garden in Van Nuys is known as Chisen-Kaiyushiki, or wet garden with promenade. Designed as a traditional strolling garden, the carefully laid-out path which transports the viewer across the different landscapes, allowing you to enjoy multiple views of the lake and its surroundings. Like many Japanese gardens, its been designed so that each season brings to life another aspect of the flora – from the vibrant fall foliage, to the spring blossoms and blooms.

Address: 6100 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406

Website: suihoen.thejapanesegarden.com

Open: 11am to 4pm Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm Sunday. Closed on Thursday and Friday. The garden is affected by rain, so check the website on rainy days. See this page for more info.

Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden In Springfield

© Nikki Tegtmeyer / Creative Commons, Mizumoto Japanese Garden

Created in 1985, the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden is one of Springfield’s best-kept secrets. This gorgeous and beautifully maintained garden includes a large lake full of koi carp, a meditation garden and a tea house, all within a traditional stroll garden, typical of the Japanese aesthetic. Visitors laud the garden’s peacefulness and tranquility, so why not head there in the afternoon when it’s a little quieter, follow the path around the garden to take in all the scenic sites, and make sure you dont miss the elegant moon bridge!

Address: 2400 S. Scenic Ave, 65807 Springfield, Missouri

Open: 10am to 7pm from April 1. See here for more details.

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Butterfly Exhibit Japanese Gardens

The Japanese Gardens here are stunning. I would suggest visiting on a weekday- the peace and quiet of this place is so soothing, and on a weekend it is much more crowded. However, I visited on a recent Saturday and there was a fun art fair that we enjoyed, so just make sure you know what type of experience you want. You can also bring a picnic and hear music in the evenings, check their calendar. Also, I highly recommend the butterfly exhibit for $12- if the weather is warm, they will be flying all around you and much more active. If it’s a chilly day, you won’t see them doing much at all. Even for adults, this is a treat especially if you are a photographer. You can also watch the butterflies hatching through a glass panel in the exhibit- it was oddly moving. Tip: if you’re athletically inclined, ride the North Branch trail up from any one of the many srtating points- it ends at the entrance to the gardens and it’s a gorgeous, easy ride. You also save the $25 parking fee . We usually start at Linne Woods in Morton Grove, it’s about 12 miles in to the Visitor Center from there.

List Of Botanical Gardens And Arboretums In Illinois

This list of botanical gardens and arboretums in Illinois is intended to include all significant botanical gardens and arboretums in the U.S. state of Illinois.

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Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park In Grand Rapids Michigan

© Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids, Michigan

In the heart of Michigan, traditional Japan meets contemporary sculpture in the charming Japanese garden in Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Having long appreciated the beauty of a traditional Japanese scenery, the founders of the gardens decided to incorporate one of their own into the wider site. The result is this patch of tranquility, combined with modern sculpture from some of the worlds greatest artists: think Jenny Holzer and Anish Kapoor. A real sight.

Address: 1000 East Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525

Open: 9am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. 11am to 5pm Sunday. Check here for further details.

Stop : Japanese Garden Bridge

In Japan, a garden bridge is a symbolic link between this world and paradise an arch suggests the difficulty of the path. Sansho-En’s graceful wooden bridge carries the visitor “from everyday life to a calm, serene, reflective communion with nature,” says Dr. Koichi Kawana, the garden’s designer.As you cross, notice how your step slows on the incline, how your breathing changes, and how your awareness heightens…

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Congratulations To Chicago Botanic Garden

map of the three islands of Sansho-en courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden

The United States Postal Service announced a set of 10 gardens to be issued on stamps in 2020.

The first U.S. garden on a stamp was Lili`uokalani Gardens in Hilo on a Priority Mail stamp in 2017, marking the centennial of Hilos treasured cultural landscape.

Issued to mark the centennial of Lili`uokalani Gardens, this also is the first time a Hilo locale appears on a U.S. postage stamp and the first time a Japanese garden appears on a U.S. postage stamp

Other gardens in the new Forever stamp set that also have Japanese gardens within their boundaries are Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens , Huntington Botanical Gardens , and Brooklyn Botanic Garden .

a viewing platform with cherry tree along the path to the main entry gate at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Japanese Garden Chicago Il

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Chicago Botanic Garden In Glencoe To Begin Limited Reopening June 9

The Chicago Botanic Garden will reopen with limited access June 9, it was announced Friday.

On that date visitors will be allowed to walk a specified 2.3-mile loop of the Glencoe grounds that includes views of the North Lake and various other garden areas including vistas of the Malott Japanese Garden and spring blooms in Dixon Prairie and the McDonald Woods, according to a news release.

However, dont expect to simply drive up and walk. Pre-registration will be required and visitors will be given a timed entry. Parking will be free during the limited reopening phase.

Garden officials announced they plan to open to a larger degree June 24, but that date is subject to change.

During the limited reopening, all buildings will remain closed. Portable toilets and hand-sanitizer stations will be made available along the walk route, according to the release. There will be no access to drinking fountains and wheelchairs will not be available for loan. Cyclists will be able to access the North Branch Trail extension during garden hours. Time slots are available as follows :

The grounds have remained closed since the states stay-at-home order went into effect in March.

For more information on registration procedures visit chicagobotanic.org.