Montreal Botanic Garden - Japanese Garden

The Japanese garden was built in 1988 and is very large. There are sweeping vistas that are populated with many elements of a traditional Japanese garden - stone lanterns, bridges, a peace bell, and structures of various design and size intended to give visitors a restful place for contemplation. There is also a large pavilion which includes a tea room and several small gardens within.

The first time I visited in April of 2015, it was still cold and covered with snow.

I also liked the small pavilion that overlooked the main lake of the garden. The dimensions were very close to the dimensions of my gazebo in my own garden. I know that at some point I will want to replace my temporary gazebo with a more permanent structure, and this Japanes pavilion seemed to fit the style and size of what I would like to build.

The next time I visited, in August 2016, there was not a covering of snow and ice.

The garden is worthy of its reputation as one of the best in North America. The only drawback I could see was that the pond was created by using a large waterproof tarp as its base. Its unfortunate, but in many places along the edge and throughout its clear water, the tarp is visible. 

There is also a Tea Garden along the side of the Japanese Pavilion as seen in the summer of 2018:

Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum, Georgian Court University

Before heading back home from Philadelphia, I decided to drive to New Jersey to visit the Japanese Garden of the Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum on the campus of Georgian Court University.

This property was once the landscape park and winter home of George Jay Gould, the millionaire son of railroad tycoon Jay Gould. The Japanese Garden was a gift to Edith Gould from her husband George and dates to around 1910. The arboretum is named after Sister Mary Grace Burns, chair of the biology department from 1927 to 1968.

Website: https://georgian.edu/gallery/japanese-garden/

On the day I visited, the garden was technically "closed" for renovations - the gate and teahouse were under repair. Nevertheless, I was able to get a quick tour of the garden.

The gateway leading to the teahouse area was being replaced. 

The sukiya style teahouse was also in the midst of having its roof replaced. This teahouse was actually built for the 1908 Japan-Britain exposition.

Otherwise, the remainder of the garden was in good shape.

The garden also has a Machiai, or waiting/resting shelter.

John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden

After traveling home from Philadelphia and New Jersey, I found myself passing New York City, at which point I decided to take a detour to visit the John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden in Locust Valley, on Long Island.

John P. Humes, a former ambassador to Austria (1969-1975) had been inspired by sites he had visited in Kyoto, Japan. In 1960, he decided to build a stroll garden on his estate. In 1985, following his death, the garden was open to the public.

Website: http://www.northshorelandalliance.org/humes-japanes-stroll-garden-officially-acquired/

parking area and gateway

bamboo forest along the edge of the parking area

gateway to the Teahouse

front view of the Japanese Teahouse

side & back view of the Teahouse