Kitaguni No Niwa (The North Country Garden)

Located in the central courtyard of the Sykes Residence Hall at St. Lawrence University, you will find the North Country Garden (Kitaguni No Niwa). The garden was built in 2008 by students and faculty who were interested in having a location for meditation and study.

Interestingly, the garden has two distinct areas: a strolling garden and a dry landscape garden. Additionally, the garden is divided into four quadrants: a strolling and moss garden on the left side, and a Yin and Yang section for the dry landscape garden on the right. 

The garden hardscape and plantings are all locally sourced. The garden has matured since its creation in 2008. It also reflects a need for some improved maintenance - many of the original features are difficult to see with the growth of time.

Below are some photos I discovered online from the time the garden was built:

Online photo sources: https://www.newswise.com/articles/st-lawrence-campus-now-has-zen-garden; http://scalar.usc.edu/works/pilgrimages-canton-to-chichibu/the-st-lawrence-university-japanese-garden.

Below are images I took while visiting the garden - note the many changes to the stroll and moss garden areas: