Gardens of the World - Japanese Garden

Gardens of the World is a privately owned collection of gardens located in Thousand Oaks, California, and operated by the Hogan Family Foundation. Inspired by the Hogan family's travels around the world (they also owned a travel agency), the gardens were dedicated to the citizens of the Conejo Valley in 2001. The grounds are open to the public free of charge and feature a French Garden, Mission Courtyard, English Perennial & Rose Garden, Italian Garden, Bandstand, and, of course, a Japanese Garden.

Website: http://www.gardensoftheworld.info/Gardens.cfm?GD=JG

The Japanese Garden includes many of the features one would expect to find in a traditional Japanese garden. The bridge at the entrance introduces visitors to the Dragon's Gate waterfall, a reference to the legend of a koi that swims upstream and transforms into a dragon. I was not, however, a fan of the red plastic bridge posts and railings.

Some of the lighting fixtures in the garden were unlike any I had encountered before. They possessed an "Oriental" quality that reflected a distinctly Western interpretation of an Asian aesthetic.

A tsukubai water feature at the pavilion entrance was a welcome addition.  It appeared to be dripping very slowly, but at least it was functional.

The pagoda was a beautiful and well-maintained structure. However, it appeared to be more Southeast Asian than Japanese in design. Fortunately, the surrounding plantings helped visually integrate the structure into the overall Japanese garden setting.

The adjacent koi pond was another attractive feature. There was even an effort to use stones to symbolically represent turtles and cranes, traditional symbols of longevity. Although the extensive protective netting was not visually appealing, its purpose in protecting the koi was understandable.

The small rock arrangement near one of the entrances to the pagoda was another thoughtful touch. I especially appreciated that it was designed at a human scale, making it an idea that even a backyard gardener could adapt for a home landscape.

Several large bonsai were also on display, adding to the garden's Japanese character.

A nearby grove of bamboo, possibly Bambusa vulgaris or a similar clumping species, added considerable interest to the landscape.

I especially liked the sacred stone wrapped with a shimenawa, the traditional rope used in Shinto to designate places inhabited by or associated with the kami.

Overall, the garden staff does a remarkable job of maintaining all of the gardens on the property. The landscape features and plantings within the Japanese Garden reflect a distinctly North American—more specifically Californian—interpretation of Japanese garden design, making it an excellent introduction to the subject. At the same time, there is a subtle Disney-esque quality to the experience. The pagoda, despite its beauty and craftsmanship, does not fully align with traditional Japanese architecture and instead evokes a stronger Southeast Asian influence. Regardless, it was still a very nice garden to visit.