Sunday, March 28, 2010

Saturday in the Gardens...part I

The Japanese Garden is part of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, which includes a conservatory, the Southern Living garden, two rose gardens, a herb terrace, as well as a wildflower garden and more.

After a short walk down a woodland pathway one reaches the entrance to the 7.5 acre Japanese garden. Enter through the red torii (gate to heaven) and wander along the pathway. It will lead you past a 16th-century Sukiya-style tea house, a karesansui garden with its bed of raked gravel, and the Long Life Lake.

There are many benches along the way where one can rest and enjoy the extraordinary views. Which is exactly what I did!

Char at ramblins... did the same thing yesterday. Pop over to her blog to see her beautiful pictures.

13 comments:

  1. These photos are exquisite. I can only imagine the beauty you beheld. Lucky Lady to get to visit this garden now.

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  2. I feel like I should see Monet sitting at his easel in one of these photos. Beautiful.

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  3. your shots are just gorgeous. gorgeous - funny we have a lot of the same shots. :) love the close up of the cherry blossoms. I was so in love with the 'weeping' ones.

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  4. Absolutely stuning pictures! I love these cherry trees, I have a few on the south side of my house, but they are nowhere in bloom as yet, you are so way ahead of us.;)
    Looking forward to part 2.;)
    xo
    Zuzana

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  5. Your Japanese garden is just beautiful, Stevie! I should get out and visit our Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park. I haven't been there in years. Funny, I travel all over the world, then seldom see my own city. I did just get back from a 4-day cruise to the Bahamas...never even left the ship. Was just so happy to be on board and see all my crew friends. It was my 78th Royal Caribbean cruise in 15 years...since my job loss over a year ago, and the $90,000/year loss in my income - and my mother's illness, etc, of the last six months, my traveling days are limited now so I, especially, enjoyed this getaway.

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  6. that is one place i would love to visit, japan. what pure and utter peace and beauty, thanks for these lovely sights.

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  7. Oh, Stevie...it's SPRING there. *wistful sigh* thanks for all the blooming pictures!

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  8. Wow, such beautiful blooms and such a serene place to unwind. Just lovely!

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  9. Oh its so nice to see its spring somewhere .. here its Monday+rain=BLAH

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  10. What lovely shots! Looks like it would be well worth the drive from Atlanta!

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  11. This looks a wonderful place to visit - I absolutely love the calm and stillness of Japanese gardens. Your photos of the blossom are superb. You are way ahead of us - I guess spring comes quickly for you in your neck of the woods ...

    Jeanne x

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  12. Wonderful - wonderful gardens AND photos!

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  13. I loved all the beautiful blossoms in your photos Stevie! This must be such a wonderful place to stroll around for a few hours.

    There is a Japanese garden in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden that I hope to re-visit this summer.

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I'm glad you stopped by and I look forward to your comments. As Dr. Fraser Crane would say, "Hello, I'm listening."