By Jennifer and John Burkhart
If you haven’t been to a local cultural center or garden, let this be your cue. These fun and interesting places are absolute gems, right in your backyard! We visited the Portland Japanese Garden and took the public tour with a wonderful volunteer that explained all about the architecture, history, and design of the garden. It was the perfect chill afternoon full of lush greenery and tranquil waters.
He Said: I thought a guided tour of a Japanese Garden was basically going to be a very polite walk. Some trees, a pond, maybe a bench where somebody quietly reflects on life while I secretly think about lunch. I was not prepared for how aggressively peaceful this place was. The second we walked through the Nezu gate, the outside world disappeared. Traffic noise? Gone. Stress? Temporarily suspended. Even the air felt calmer somehow. Our guide greeted us with the soothing energy of someone who has never sent an angry email, while I arrived carrying the emotional stability of a raccoon. As we wandered down winding stone paths, our guide explained how the garden was carefully designed to exist in harmony with the environment. Rainwater feeds the ponds, repurposed materials are incorporated throughout the pathways and structures, and every plant and tree is maintained with long-term sustainability in mind. It was all very serene and enlightening right up until I got distracted watching a koi the size of a submarine surface beside me and almost stepped directly into the pond myself. At one point our guide had us stop talking for a moment and simply take in the sounds of the garden around us. Normally, silence and I are not close friends, but somehow it worked. The waterfalls trickled softly, birds chirped overhead, and for a few rare moments my brain stopped operating like an internet browser with 46 open tabs. By the end of the tour, I noticed nobody was rushing around anymore. I felt calmed and slowed down. Would I do it again? Absolutely. For a couple peaceful hours, the only thing on my schedule was slowing down, breathing deeply, and trying not to accidentally become part of the koi exhibit.
She Said: This was one of those places where pictures truly didn’t do it justice. Sure, the pics look nice, but actually being there, strolling under the dappled sunlight, surrounded by more shades of green than you knew existed… it doesn’t compare. I’m so used to seeing the local, wild, “shaggy” greenery in my backyard and neighborhood, that walking into such a tidy, organized garden was a shock in the most pleasant way possible. It was a feast for the eyes and a balm for my brain, especially when I was near any water feature. And who knew that carp could be so fascinating?! Those chunky fish could probably swallow my hand whole, but they were cute, in their own way, and beautifully patterned. Our tour guide mentioned that the keeper would tap a pole on the bridge, and all the fish would dash right over for food. Guess they’re kinda smart, too! Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and sweet, explaining the design elements for the gardens (there were five different kinds), the history of how the garden came to be, and fun things like which large stones actually came from Japan. Each garden has three elements represented – water, plants, and stone. It was a surprise to see that water wasn’t always in a garden, but instead represented by tiny pebbles raked into a pattern that looked like ripples surrounding an island or animal. I highly recommend signing up for the public tour – we learned so much. Besides tours (which pause in summer in Arizona, and resume in September for the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix) there are many fun events, classes, and demonstrations that you’ll want to check out throughout the year – with music and tea tastings being my favorites.
