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.
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.
