Sansho-En: "Garden of Three Islands"

I had a chance to visit the Chicago Botanic Garden over the 4th of July holiday. I had originally planned to visit last year, but I was unexpectedly forced to put it off after a health scare while passing through Union Station. After a year I was able to return and visit, and without a doubt, visiting has contributed to my healing. The Botanic Garden is spectacular. One could easily spend the entire day there as did my wife and I. The Elizabeth Hubert Malott Japanese Garden is one of the best in the country. 

Website: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/gardens/japanese

the Japanese garden is made of up three islands (see map):

download a detailed description with map

It was a great day at the garden and at the end we were rewarded with a beautiful sunset over Horaijima (Island of Everlasting Happiness), an island inaccessible to mortals.

Flower Mist Dwelling Place

During the 2013 Annual Soroptimist Garden Tour (an organization focused on supporting women), I was able to visit the garden of Stan Hobbs in Glenville. I read about his garden in the local newspaper. Its a woodland stroll garden with many Japanese features. I was surprised to discover that someone else in my town shared an interest in Japanese gardens and had created one on his property.

Website: http://www.soroptimistofschenectady.org/events.htm

"Flower, Mist Dwelling Place"

The garden turned out to be even better than the newspaper had described. Stan has put a lot of work into his garden and its Japanese esthetic is truly authentic. Walking through the garden I was inspired to consider some new types of plantings and incorporate some elements of what Stan has done into some of my future plans.

Japanese Tea Garden, Golden Gate Park

While visiting San Francisco, I had an opportunity to visit Golden Gate Park and the Japanese Tea garden. This garden is considered the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. The garden contains many elements associated with Japanese gardens from this early period. There was also a wonderful tea house where we were able to get a tea and some snacks.

Website: http://japaneseteagardensf.com/

The Fells

I went to visit dartmouth College this weekend and while there took a trip to visit The Fells historic site and gardens once owned by John Milton Hay.

The Fells is located in New Hampshire, and is well worth a visit. The Old Garden (1909) was very nice, but the most spectacular site was the Clarence Hay Rock Garden (1930s) which had over 300 species of alpine plants in a variety of microclimates.

Website: https://thefells.org/