Asian Gardens of Southern California
A friend once asked me for a list of Asian, Chinese and Japanese,' gardens in Southern California open to the public. The following is a list of ones I know about, and as I visit them, I will add a short description and pictures later, so come on back. Also, I would like suggestions of other Asian gardens to add.
City of Hope
The City of Hope, a world class hospital-medical research facility in Duarte, near Pasadena, has a very intimate, about 10,000 square foot, Japanese Garden. The koi are always hungry and you can buy koi food via a re-cycled bubble gum machine. For more information ask the guard when you arrive. The web site makes no mention of the gardens. For more information, click here.
Descanso Gardens, 'Japanese Tea House'
Descanso Gardens is part of the L.A.County Park System. They are located in La Canada just north of Pasadena. Besides the Japanese Tea House and garden, they are known for the kid's train ride, their large collection of camellias, and the rose garden. Unfortunately, there web site is not very comprehensive, so I will get pictures the next time I am there. For more information, click here.
Friendship Gardens, Balboa Park, San Diego
Friendship Gardens is located in the middle of Balboa Park not that far from the entrance to the world famous San Diego Zoo and adjacent to the organ pavilion. Plan ahead as the garden is closed Mondays. Friendship Gardens has everything you expect a Japanese Garden to have. The San Diego Koi Club helped in the design and maintenance of the pond. I haven't been there since the garden was renovated, but I am told it is worth the trip. It is a large garden and there web site will make you want to visit. For more information, click here.
Huntington Gardens
The Huntington Gardens in San Marino has one of the world's great libraries, probably the best cactus collection anywhere, great art including 'Blue Boy,' and a great Japanese Garden. The Japanese Garden includes a Tea House, a Zen Garden and some great Bonsai. There are pictures in the 'Pondscaping' section of this site. The Huntington's website has pictures of the garden scattered throughout its web pages. The Gardens are one of my favorite places to visit.For more information, click here.
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
As a faculty member at Cal Poly Pomona, I watched the construction of this garden from conception through dedication. The 1.3-acre George and Sakaye Aratani Japanese Garden was dedicated in late June, 2003, so it is a new garden with lots of promise. Obviously this website needs a bit of work. For more information, click here.
California State University at Long Beach
Until recently, I have always been too busy when I have had university business at CSULB to see the garden dedicated to Earl Burns Miller, but in early 2004 my wife and I made a special trip to see this garden. It is described as a Japanese style garden rather than a Japanese traditional garden. A traditional garden would only use plants found in Japan, while a garden in the Japanese style uses local plants in place of 'traditional' plants that do not do well in Southern California. The Garden is just over an acre with the friendliest koi around. Below are a couple of pictures, but to get a better effect check out the garden's web site by clicking here.
Woodley Avenue Japanese Garden
The City of Los Angeles Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant located at 6100 Woodley Avenue in the City of Van Nuys looks like a giant Japanese Garden. Will wonders never cease. I understand that the is a nominal entrance fee. The phone is (818) 756-8166. Reservations necessary for tours at 9:30,10 and 10:30 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays and Saturdays. For more information click here or for pictures click here.
And for something completely different but worth mentioning ...
Self-Realization Fellowship's Lake Shrine
This garden has been described to me as one of Southern California's hidden gems. The garden is located in Pacific Palisades at 17190 West Sunset Blvd. The garden is open to the public but it is closed on Monday. For more information call 310-454-4114 or click here.
More garden locations and web sites to come, Please email me with suggestions and possible additions at koilover@adelphia.net.