The Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden is located at the Como Park Zoo & Conservancy in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It began as a result of a sister-city relationship between Saint Paul and Nagasaki, Japan. First opened in 1979, the garden was restored in 1991 and again 2013.
Designed as a chisen-kaiyu (strolling pond) style garden, one encounters a large meandering pond surrounded by a landscape of stone features, exceptionally pruned trees, and hardscape features including bridges and lanterns.
Larger stones and trees comprise a backdrop that suggest elevation changes and borrowed scenes punctuated by an occasional lantern.
A large waterfall is a central focal point of the pond and is comprised of many large stones that create a tranquil mountain scene.
Exceptionally well pruned trees populate the area. The trees are professionally maintained by gardeners who have done a good job keeping the garden looking immaculate. I especially like the granite bridges that crossed the narrows of the pond and provided opportunities to see koi fish up close.
At the far end of the pond one encounters established maples that mark a transition via large stepping stones across yet another narrow within the pond.
The stones are meant to slow one down, not to take caution, but to provide an opportunity to view the garden from yet another perspective.
From this vantage point, one can take in a view of the larger pond from yet another angle.
Turning ones gaze in the opposite direction reveals a seemingly separate garden defined by groundcovers and grasses along the pond's edge. Here too, rocks help create a sense of an aged garden.
Crossing the pond brings a visitor to an open area populated by large shrubs and more pine trees.
Watching the garden staff pruning the trees was a joy to behold.
Following a long curving path, one eventually encounters a gate and tsukiya style teahouse.
Since the teahouse was closed, a tome-ishi, or stop stone, blocked the entry along the pathway.
The grounds around the teahouse offered plenty of sights to enjoy, including lantern views, architectural features, and a small roji garden behind the structure with stepping stones, a small lantern, and a tsukubai for ritual cleansing.
I also liked the natural brush style fence made of twigs near the walkway exit behind the teahouse. Although small, it was a nice authentic feature.
The Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden was an excellent example of a Japanese garden in north America. Along with its adjacent bonsai garden and three other outstanding Japanese gardens in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul region of Minnesota, it is well worth a visit.
