Moments of Serenity: Portland Japanese Garden

Portland Japanese Garden is one of the most tranquil places in a city full of serene landscapes. Designed by Professor Takuma Tono in 1967, this haven is located up the hill from the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park. The Garden is divided into 5 sub-gardens on 5.5acres: the Strolling Pond Garden, the Natural Garden, the Sand and Stone Garden, the Flat Garden, and the Tea Garden. The east veranda behind the tea house has a view of Mount Hood in the distance that resembles Mount Fiji. The Japanese Garden in Portland is known to be one of the most authentic Japanese Gardens outside of Japan. The Garden is currently adding three acres to include a chabana garden, ticketing pavilion, garden house, tea cafe, cultural center, and a gift store. 

View of the Strolling Pond Gardens 

Two bronze sculptures of cranes with a real bunny hopping by

Zig-Zag Walkway surrounded by irises and waters filled with Koi fish in the Strolling Pond Garden 

Strolling Pond Garden: One of the most stunning views in the Japanese Garden. Dense trees rolling up the hillside with a cascading waterfall 

Sand and Stone Garden or karesansui (dry garden) was imported to Japan in the 14th to 15th century. Yohaku-No-bi ("The beauty of blank space") is an important idea in karesansui. 

Several alcoves allow visitors to observe many different views of the Japanese Garden

Flat Garden: Trees in the Garden represent the Four Seasons

Exhibit of Ryan Neil's Work: American Bonsai

Hope you're able to travel up to Portland soon!

The Bayou Botanist

Events in Houston: Azaleas, a Regatta, and the French!

A lot of fun events are happening this coming weekend March 11-13, 2016 in Houston's Green Spaces:

1. The Azalea Trail at the Bayou Bend

Friday, Saturday, Sunday
March 11–13, 2016
11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Bayou Bend participates in the annual Azalea Trail, presented in March by River Oaks Garden Club. Azalea Trail showcases the colorful azaleas at Bayou Bend, Rienzi, private homes, and the garden club's Forum of Civics.

At Bayou Bend, guests enjoy the splendor of spring among the woodland gardens and glimpse the collection of American decorative arts in the main hall of the house. For more details, contact River Oaks Garden Club. Tickets are also available at Bayou Bend beginning in February. Azalea Trail admission is the only way to view Bayou Bend during this weekend. Proceeds support local organizations including Bayou Bend and Rienzi.

(Information from the Bayou Bend Website; Read more here)
Tickets are $25 for all 6 locations (map); $10 for a single location

2. The Buffalo Bayou Regatta
Saturday
March 12, 2016
7:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Join us for Texas’ largest canoe and kayak race – the 44th Annual Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta! Paddlers, ages 12 and up, are encouraged to participate in the 15-mile American Canoe Association sanctioned race along the scenic Buffalo Bayou. Whether you are entering competitively or paddling for pleasure, you won’t want to miss out on this longstanding Houston tradition!
Those not wanting to paddle can cheer on racers along the race route or catch the outdoor fun at the finish line festivities at Sesquicentennial Park (500 block of Preston Street).

(Information from the Buffalo Bayou Partnership Website; Read more here)
Those signing up the day of for the race: the cost is $60 per person; $25 for student or military ID

3. The French Culture Festival at the Discovery Green
Friday
March 11, 2016
6p.m.– 10 p.m.


A free kick-off concert of the 2016 French Cultures Festival will showcase a bouncing mix of rock, pop and blues-hiphop sounds with three bands: The Blind Suns (Angers, France), Wild Moccasins (Houston, Texas), and Scarecrow (Toulouse, France). The event will take place on Friday, March 11 at Discovery Green located at 1500 McKinney, Houston, Texas 77010 from 6 to 10 p.m. It is open to the public and family-friendly.

(Information found on www.FrenchCulture.org; You can learn more about the concert and bands can be found here.)


4. The Bluebonnets are coming!!  While this is not an event. . .Who doesn't love fields of wildflowers? www.bluebonnetlove.com is a great website to locate areas across the state of Texas where Bluebonnets have been seen in bloom. 

I hope to see you all outdoors enjoying the good weather (fingers crossed)! 
xoxo, 
The Bayou Botanist 

Going Tropical: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Miami is a tropical wonderland. Beach lovers and foodies alike flock down south to "Little Cuba" for good reason. My first stop is always Wynwood Arts District , followed closely by the Perez Art Museum, and a long bike ride along the Southbeach boardwalk. But if you want to leave the beach and hustle behind to explore a few Gardens, I would suggest Villa Viscaya or  The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. This trip I drove a short 20 minutes outside of Miami to Coral Gables to visit The Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden for the first time. The 83 acre garden includes over 23,000 plants and one of the largest collections of palms and cycads in the world. Fun Fact: The Garden opened in 1938 and is named after the famous botanist Dr. David Fairchild (1869-1954) who traveled the world bringing back hundreds of plants including the flowering cherry trees in Washington DC. The Garden is open everyday (except of December 25) from 7:30am- 4:30pm.

You know you're in Florida when the majority of trees are Palms. 

The Clinton Family Conservatory featuring the Wings of the Tropics Exhibit; the Glasshouse Cafe gives a clear view into the garden. . . but I would suggest you eat before coming to the Garden. . . food options are limited and not very good. 

Two Butterflies in the Wings of the Tropics Exhibit 

In the Tropical Plant Conservatory; Colorful Chihuly sculptures always look incredible installed in Gardens. 

In the Rare Plant House  

Every nameplate in the Whitman Tropical Fruit Pavilion had it's own little lizard; the lizards loved the heat from the metal

Walking down Moos Sunken Garden

Moos Sunken Garden

Spiderwebs are stunning in afternoon light. . . just pay attention not to walk straight through them. 

Viewpoint from the Bailey Palm Glade

Pandanus Lake

I hope you're able to explore your green spaces wherever you may be!
xoxo,
The Bayou Botanist 

Roses in Bloom

Located in the Museum district, the McGovern Centennial Garden has grown into a lovely green haven. It has been a little over a year since the Garden opened to the public. Since then, vines have grown their way up the trellis; the Family Garden is bursting with leafy greens and fruit trees; and the rose garden has bloomed with a splendid variety of smells and colors. While I strolled and sketched on a bench, I watched families picnicing, couples reading books together, and dozens of people walking up and down the central earthwork. The garden is such a wonderful reminder of how far Houston has come in the last few years in regards to the importance placed on public green spaces.

Entrance to the McGovern Centennial Gardens

Arid Garden at McGovern Centennial Gardens 

A view from the top of the earthwork

Family Garden 

The smells of Roses and Rosemary float through the garden (photo from January-roses have since been pruned)

Roses at the McGovern Centennial Gardens (photo from January) The Roses have recently been pruned 

I hope you take advantage of the gorgeous weather this weekend by walking through the Gardens!

xoxo,
The Bayou Botanist

Gardens on the Fly : Singapore Changi Airport

I never thought I would say this: I want to arrive a few hours early to an airport. The Singapore Changi Airport  has taken travel to the next level: Free screenings of movies, free internet access, free foot massage chairs, incredible shopping, fine dining. . . . and last but not least several stand-out gardens scattered through the terminals. The Gardens include the Sunflower Garden, the Butterfly Garden, the Orchid Garden, and the Enchanted Garden. Trees also grow in groves throughout the airport while koi fish swim in small ponds by charging stations. The green spaces go a long way to make you feel as though you're just passing an relaxing afternoon in a park rather than enduring the normal hustle before a long flight. 

One of the hundreds of Butterflies swarming around the Butterfly Garden 

Butterflies feasting on fresh pineapple slices 

Small Lizards enjoy the nectar of bright Gerber Daisies 

Greenery in the Butterfly Garden

Waterfall in the Butterfly Garden

One of the many groves of trees scattered throughout the airport 

Orchid Garden

Flowers Bundled in the Enchanted Garden

The magical  Enchanted Garden

Sunflower Garden on the roof of Terminal 2 

Sunflowers turning to welcome visitors; how can you not be happy in this garden?

Just in case you forget this is at an airport. See you later Singapore!

Singapore's dedication to green spaces and its belief in the value of gardens both as a place of social importance and health benefits has helped turn the country into a place of extreme beauty. Any admirer of horticulture should mark Singapore as a place to visit in the future.

Wishing you many green adventures,
xoxo,
The Bayou Botanist

Singapore: Chinese and Japanese Gardens

Lily Pads in the Japanese Garden with a view of the Chinese Padoga in the distance 

If you want to explore a park in Singapore a little off the beaten path, I would suggest the Japanese Garden and Chinese Garden in Jurong East. Both Gardens are built on artificial islands in Jurong Lake (previously Jurong River) and are connected by a 13 arch bridge 'Bai hong Qiao' or 'the white rainbow'. The Chinese Garden features a Pagoda, a stone boat, a Garden of Chinese Zodiacs, a stunning Bonsai Garden of over 2,000 trees, and a tea house. Inspired by Japanese Gardens from the 14th-17th century, the Japanese Garden has fewer obvious attractions as its neighbor but is meant to be a place of tranquility and contemplation. Here visitors can enjoy lily ponds, stone walkways, a traditional resting house, and arching red bridges.

Everyone enjoys the Japanese garden; two turtles sunbathing; the Turtle and Tortoise Museum is on the grounds; you should also keep your eyes open for the large monitor lizards that like to lounge in the gardens

Multiple bridges cross over the Lily Pond  

Stunning Bonsai Garden in the Chinese Gardens; opened in 1992; 2,000 Bonsai trees were imported from China and other countries 

Bonsai Garden; little glimpses into a number of 'rooms' full of bonsai trees on pedestals

Bonsai Garden: a sneak peek into another part of the garden

Bonsai Garden: Bonsai trees growing from stones meant to resemble mountainous landscapes 

In the Garden of Abundance: 12 Chinese Zodiac animal sculpture, a sun dial, and pomegranate trees 

7- story Pagoda in the style of the Ling Ku Temple 

A detailed look at the exterior of the Pagoda

Looking up the heart of the Pagoda 

A view from the seventh eave of the Pagoda 

Tip: The Gardens are easily accessible from the MRT (Chinese Garden stop) and can be combined with a visit to the Jurong Bird Park a mere 8 minute drive away. Gardens are open daily from 6am-11pm.

Enjoy your green adventures!
xoxo,
The Bayou Botanist