Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens

Hillwoood is the former estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post in Washington DC, and contains a Japanese-style garden unlike most. 

Describing the Japanese-style garden at Hillwood is no easy task. It is considered a "non-traditional" Japanese garden and offers "action and intrigue" instead of "opportunities for contemplative meditation," at least according to the Hillwood Estate website.

Website: https://hillwoodmuseum.org/press-room/news-events-and-background-information

Its safe to say that the garden reflects a more "orientalist" view of a Japanese garden built during the late 19th to early 20th century. In fact, the original garden was built in the 1920s. Today Hillwood defines it as "an artful hybrid of Japanese and American gardening traditions."

In 1958, Marjorie Post had the old "oriental garden" replaced with a new garden designed by Shogo Myaida. 

In the late 1990s Hillwood recognized the need to improve the Japanese garden, but also the importance of maintaining the garden's historic nature over any attempt at creating of an authentic Japanese garden (read the following site evaluation from Brooke Whiting, March 13, 1997).

Visiting the garden offers some challenges. The winding pathway drops down considerably because the garden is located on a very steep hill, an insurance hazard for Hillwood to be sure. I had some difficulty traversing the steps and pathways in a manner that was safe. Photographing it successfully from above was also difficult. One has to watch their step with every move.

I found that entering from the bottom and working one's way to the top was a much more pleasant experience.

After passing through a formal gate, one encounters a tiered pagoda and a series of ponds and bridges.

Translation: Hillwood Garden

Part of the problem with this garden is that there is simply too many hardscape items packed into a small and steep environment. Apparently, Marjorie Post saw this as a collection of artifacts that reflected her tastes and interests.

The garden was remarkably well maintained given the challenges of its age and topography.

Design wise, it was too "kitschy" and repetitive. Too many bridges, stepping stones, lanterns, and statues. I can only assume that Marjorie Post thought this is what a Japanese garden looked like (for the record, authentic Japanese gardens do not). 

On the other hand, it is a good example of a historic example of late 19th early 20th century Japanese garden ideas seen elsewhere in North America. Shame, given that the garden was reinvented in post-world War II 1958. A lost opportunity to get it right.

National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

Over the last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Washington D.C. on the grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum.

Website: https://www.bonsai-nbf.org/visitor-information-map/

The collection began in 1976 with a donation of plants from the Nippon Bonsai Association to the United States, with the collection growing to 150 plants. 

 

Some of these plants date back several decades and some several centuries. 

Yes, the tree above was started in 1625. At almost 400 years old it was an amazing site to see.

I was expecting to see some wonderful bonsai when I first decided to visit, but I was surprised at the degree to which the museum offered so much more. I also was not well informed about the Chinese art of Penjing and was able to expand my own understanding of this art as a result of my visit.

The Chinese pavilion was very nice and had some great specimens.

 

 

I also loved the way they incorporated flower imagery into the window screens.

 

There was also a large collection of North American plants.

 

 

I also admired a potted Japanese Dwarf Male that was near the entry way. It gave me hope that I might be able to do something interesting with the Maple I recently located near my Moon Window.

The Museum, which is open daily from 10:00 - 4:00 is free, and well worth the visit.

Moongate Garden (Enid A. Haupt Garden)

Last weekend I had an opportunity to accompany my wife Catherine on a visit to Washington, DC. She was attending a conference and I wanted to use the opportunity to surprise her with a renewed marriage proposal and engagement ring in honor of our 25th wedding anniversary.

Given that we had met and fell in love in China, I wanted to perform the surprise proposal in a place that appropriately reflected the start of our relationship. Initially I thought I would pop-the-question at the United States Botanic Garden. After all, we love visiting gardens. However, it had occurred to me that there was a small secluded garden adjacent to the Freer and Sackler Galleries, one of our favorite Asian art museums (part of the Smithsonian).

It had been some time since I last visited the museum and had, in fact, forgotten the significance of the garden. As I investigated the location as the possible proposal site, I quickly realized how the garden was the perfect location for my plans.

Website: http://gardens.si.edu/our-gardens/haupt-garden.html

The garden is known as the Moongate Garden and it was designed by architect Jean Paul Carlhian. The design was inspired by the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China.  

Catherine and I at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, 2011

The geometrical axial layout is centered around the cardinal points of a compass. There is granite and water throughout the garden, reflecting two of the of the Five Elements. 

Pink granite blocks are placed in the corners of the garden. Two as standing gates, and two that lay down and act as benches. 

It truly is a place of quiet contemplation, and for my purpose, seclusion. 

I also recognized the symbolic significance of this location for my plans - the circular spot at the center is similar to the Yuan Qiu (Circular Alter) located at the Temple of Heaven complex in Beijing. Yuan Qiu is essentially a square (representing Earth) with a three-tiered circular platform in which the Heaven's Heart Stone is located at the center. It literally marks the place where Heaven and Earth intersect. 

Catherine and I standing upon Heaven's Heart Stone in Beijing, 2011

The Moongate Garden reflects these same features in its design.

What better place, then, to express my continued devotion to our love than the place where Heaven and Earth meet? 

After much secretive planning, Catherine and I headed off to visit the Freer and Sackler Galleries, or so she thought. It was a beautiful day, the sky clearer and bluer than I can ever remember. It was, no doubt, a blessing from Heaven. We arrived early and no one was nearby, except a lone security guard. Although he initially rejected my request to take a photograph ("Its against policy..."), he very quickly changed his mind ("...but today I am going to ignore that policy"). Another blessing from Heaven. I handed him the phone/camera and joined Catherine who was standing upon the center stone.

Finding the words to convey the moment is beyond my abilities. I therefore offer the picture below as as a testament of my devotion to the women who has made me the happiest man in the world. 

Our love knows no bounds and transcends both Heaven and Earth, and I can think of no greater place in which to demonstrate that love than the Moongate Garden.