Seisui-Tei, the "Garden of Pure Water," is a Japanese garden located at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minnesota, just west of Minneapolis. A medium sized Zen garden, it contains a curved pathway that allows visitors to stroll through the garden and encounter different elements of a traditional Japanese garden along the way.
Website: https://arb.umn.edu/specialty-gardens/japanese
Designed by Koichi Kawana in 1985, the garden contains many elements of a Zen garden. The garden is close to the main visitor center, but is secluded by trees and shrubs, making it a hidden joy to discover. An entry gate leads one into the garden and onto a curving pathway that extends along the outer perimeter of the garden. It should be noted that I visited in early September - too soon for fall colors, and too late for spring blossoms. Hence the overwhelmingly green appearance of the garden in the photos that follow.
Other elements include a collection of lanterns, a stone pagoda, and stepping stones that bring one further into the garden landscape.
The garden also contains several unique trees, including Japanese red pine, which act as focal points within the garden.
A centrally located pond and water fall bring a delightful water element into the garden. Filled with koi, the pond is an inviting element that encourages visitor to interact with nature.
A "turtle island" within the pond acts as a symbolic representation of longevity.
The snow lantern at the ponds edge adds an authentic feature that adds to the natural elements of stone and water associated with traditional Zen gardens.
A tsukubai water feature sits next to a pavilion.
The tsukubai flower design is appropriate giving the extensive plantings within the garden.
The view from the pavilion allows a visitor to take in the entire garden from a single vantage point.
The traditional construction of the pavilion also adds to the garden's authenticity.
Following the curving path along the outer edge of the garden, and past the pavilion, one encounters a smaller gate that exits into the remainder of the arboretum.
Seisui-Tei is an excellent garden and well worth a visit. Authentic features and design elements will help introduce fist time visitors to a Japanese garden experience a true Zen garden.
