Japanese Garden

A birthday gift to Edith Gould from her husband George, this garden is entered through a gateway, or machiai. The garden path, or roji, passes a genuine teahouse, or sukiya, and leads to a small wooden footbridge as it continues to the back of the garden. A stately Umbrella Pine (Sciadopitys verticillata) on the island in the center of the garden, is surrounded by Japanese Yew (Taxus cuspidata), Japanese Cherry (Prunus serrulata), Hinoki Falsecypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) and Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum). Weeping Higan Cherry (Prunus subhirtella) is also in the garden.

There are two periods of peak color in the Japanese Garden. One is from April 15-June 5. The early flowers of the cherries are followed by lily of the valley, azalea, iris, rhododendron, and goldenchain tree. Often, the irises, rhododendron, and goldenchain tree flower simultaneously in the last half of May, creating a spectacular mix of yellow, purple, and pink at the entrance to the garden. The other peak color period is about October 10-Nov 10, when the leaves of the cherries and various cultivars of maples change to yellow, red and orange.

Wooden bridge at entrance to the Japanese Garden. Iris and Rhododendron are in flower.

The spectacular yellow flowers of the Goldenchain Tree (Laburnum anagyroides) mark the entrance to the Japanese Garden in May.

The teahouse in late April/early May. In the background are Japanese Cherry (Prunus serrulata), Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum), and Norway Spruce (Picea abies).

Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum) provide red color in October and early November. The green needles of the Umbrella Pine (Sciadopitys verticillata) are also visible.

Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum) frame a stone lantern.

The exit bridge in autumn. The color is provided by cultivars of Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum).