Crow Collection of Asian Art

While staying in Dallas, Texas, I had the opportunity to visit the Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art, a small, but unique collection of once-private artifacts. The museum and its contents are open to the public at no cost.

Just beyond the museum, is an impressive series of gardens. The garden, which surrounds a central skyscraper, has a different style of Japanese garden along each side of the building - stone arrangements, dry riverbed, shady grove with bamboo, water features, and many sculptures.

Website: http://crowcollection.org

Overall, I found this garden to be spectacular. Many of its elements were authentically carried out and the setting was serene. Given that it was in the midst of a modern city, the garden was impressive.

Ft. Worth Japanese Garden

The Fort Worth Japanese Garden is part of the Fort Worth Botanic garden in Texas. I had a chance to visit it while staying in nearby Oklahoma. It comprises 7.5 acres and is filled with many elements of a traditional Japanese garden.

Overall, I found this garden to be interesting. There were elements of Japanese gardens, but it also retained its Texas character. There could have been less use of cement (rather than granite) for hardscape, and more open areas instead of heavily forested areas.

Website: http://www.fwbg.org/gardens/#/the-japanese-garden/

The main gate way was very impressive.

The dry landscape garden was a bit of a disapiontment. The stones and gravel worked fine, but the viewing platform was poorly conceived. It completely surrounded the garden and was too high off the ground. As a result, the cement pillars holding up the structure were visible. In addition, a railing surrounded the entire platform, making any attempt to take in the view for contemplation impossible.

The fish and turtles throughout the ponds were a nice touch.