Itabashi Garden

Special Note: the Itabashi Garden officially marks the 100 Japanese/Chinese garden that I have visited in North America!

Located behind the Tansley Woods Community Centre & library, in Burlington, Ontario, resides the Itabashi Garden. The garden officially opened on Canada Day, 2019 with delegates from both the city of Burlington and Itabashi, Japan, two sister cities that have been engaged in a twin-city relationship since 1989.

Designed by landscape architect Virginia Burt, the garden consists of large granite rocks from the nearby Niagara escarpment and a mix of Japanese and native trees and plants. As a result, the garden reflects the twinning relationship between Burlington and Itabashi.

The garden is located behind the Community Center but can be accessed easily. When passing through the Center's lobby, one approaches a large curved glass wall with doors that lead to a pleasant patio and sitting area. The garden is the backdrop for this tranquil location.

Not only is it picturesque, its dimensions include an elevation that is accentuated by a Azumaya structure near the top and a very large nearby stone pagoda.

A pathway on either side leads up and through the garden, bringing visitors to the opposite side of the garden. Along the way there are granite steps and a variety of Japanese and native plantings, including 23 different maple trees and forest grass. 

The Azumaya (four sided pavilion) at the top is a wonderful perch from which to take in an elevated view of the garden and the entire Community Center courtyard.

Being able to view the courtyard from within the garden is an excellent way to to expand the garden viewing experience. The pathway creates the illusion of a march larger garden by allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the garden. This approach is an improvement over simply viewing the garden statically from the courtyard below. It also affords one the opportunity to view and discover the plantings in a more up-close and personal way.

Regardless of the direction chosen, the pathway offers visual experiences that are sure delight during every season.

Readers should note that there is a nearby walking bridge, the Itabashi Bridge, that crosses a small creek. This author, unfortunately, did not discover its existence until I had already departed the garden.

David G. Porter Memorial Japanese Garden

The David G. Porter Memorial Japanese Garden is a small Japanese garden located on the grounds of the University of Guelph arboretum in Ontario, Canada. Constructed in 1995 in honor of David G. Porter, a former professor, the garden was inspired by a 1993 visit taken by Mr. and Mrs. Porter to Japan. Although the garden is small in size, it has a remarkable number of authentic plants and features that create the impression of a much larger garden.

The garden looks remarkably different from when it was first constructed, although some of the original features remain intact. Today it is a mature garden with plantings that have grown in a way that help to isolate the garden from the other nearby gardens.

Source: 4th Addition, June 2002 Arboretum PDF

Here is a list of specific plantings: Japanese Garden Map and Plant List

Entering the garden through the "salutation gateway" you are confronted with a stone bridge that crosses a small reflecting pool.

A small waterfall feeds into the pool which is bisected by the stone bridge.

 

A large number frogs populate the west end of the pond.

Crossing the bridge brings the visitor to a karesansui (dry landscape) garden. Although small in size, it was seemingly larger as a result of the well placed plantings around and within, including simple boxwoods. The fact that the gravel had been raked earlier in the morning indicated that the garden was being cared for. The maintenance on the shrubs throughout also indicated that the garden was well managed.

The small structure adjacent to the viewing garden, was the perfect viewing platform from which to experience the tranquility of the garden. A symbolic representation of a "tea house," it is too small for that category, but stylistically, it works well as an authentic architectural element. 

Its size reflects the overall balance of the garden - its not too large and it helps to create the felling of being within a much larger garden.

There are also other interesting plantings and features throughout the garden that can be experienced via simple adjustments to one's location or perspective.

 

Overall, a small garden with plenty of examples that could inspire someone seeking to create their own small backyard garden.

Kariya Park

Kariya Park in Mississauga is an example of of a mid-sized Japanese Garden located in the midst of an urban environment. The product of a 1981 sister city relationship between the cites of Mississauga, Ontario in Canada and the city of Kariya in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. 

Website: https://www.mississauga.ca/events-and-attractions/parks/kariya-park/

The park opened in 1992 to celebrate the sister-city relationship. Since that time, it has developed into a mature garden with Cherry, Maple, Ginko, and local Birch trees.

The gate, fence and pavilion are all made from cedar and have been allowed to naturally turn a faded gray.

I especially liked the use of black bamboo for some aspects of the fence and windows.

The fence does an excellent job or isolating the garden from the urban landscape which surrounds the garden.

There were also several water features and a large Tachidōrō lantern. Unfortunately, the difficult-to-see lantern showed signs of vandalism. The water basin in the foreground was unique in it shape and was unlike any basin I had previously seen.

Several bridges added interest to the stroll paths throughout the greater garden, including a zig-zag bridge.

A large bridge with unique post designs crossed a pond leading toward the pavilion area.

The pavilion was constructed to reflect the nature of the sister city relationship between Mississauga and Kariya, its two adjacent roofed structures representing each city connected by a peace bell.

An abundance of ducks took advantage the of the pond and its stunning views of the garden and city-scape backdrop.

Stones, lanterns, and tori gates also populated the pathways surrounding the pond an pavilion area.

The pavilion platform was an excellent place to rest, take in the view, or practice Tai-Chi or Qigong.

A large peace bell, cast in Japan, and donated by the city of Kariya in 2001, was hung in the central area of the pavilion to honor the 20th anniversary of the friendship relationship between Mississauga and Kariya. It was impressive and something I have only seen in a few Japanese gardens in North America.

The backdrop of the pavilion includes a large karesansui (dry landscape) garden. The design was well thought out, and the simple collection of stones impressive. On my visit it was clear that the gravel had not been recently maintained, but otherwise it was a nice design feature. Unfortunately, a large construction site adjacent to this area of the garden proved somewhat distracting, but in a few years, once finished, I am sure the view from the karesansui garden will be vastly improved.

The south eastern portion of the garden is more reminiscent of a stroll garden, with wide pathways, plantings of Hydrangea, Hosta, and Dwarf Red Maples. There is also another pond populated by ducks and turtles.

Overall, Kariya Park was an excellent mid-sized garden with lots of authentic features and a most scenic and peaceful escape from its surrounding urban environment. Its a garden well worth a visit.