1. Entrance Plaque

As you face the gate to The Garden, you will see the Dedication Plaque which was unveiled on June 14, 1984 by Dr. Kawana. The Garden entry was designed to permit no more than two people to enter together in order to encourage courtesy and to allow the viewing of only a small portion of The Garden.

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2. Dry Garden

Karesansui is associated with Zen Buddhist temples.) In this section, stone arrangements and gravel symbolize the ocean, and the patterns called Samoan created on it express waves and the state of the sea. The upright stones in the middle of the dry garden symbolize and are known as the Horaisan, island of immortals and everlasting happiness, as well as the five basic elements...sky, earth, wind, water, and fire. The three stones on the left are Shinto Shrine stones, the largest stone representing Buddha and the two smaller stones representing his learned associates or helpers. The stones are arranged according to the "three Buddha" style, one of the most orthodox of stone arrangements. A large grass-covered mound represents Tortoise Island, which is a symbol of longevity. According to Chinese and Japanese mythology, the tortoise lives for 10,000 years. Beneath Tortoise Island is a concrete structure which houses the diversion unit to direct waste water into the plant for reclamation.

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3. Directional Stone

This stone indicates that there is another path to take. This is a very strong stone, 2 3/: inches above ground and 5 feet below ground - life takes strength from the earth. The Plover Bird Pathway leads to the wisteria-covered viewing arbor. When it is covered with wisteria blossoms, the arbor in this part of the garden is an ideal place to rest, and to contemplate and enjoy these beautiful flowers. The flat stone pathway is arranged to depict the flight path of the Plover birds. At this point you will also notice The Garden's first stand of Golden Bamboo.

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4. Wet Heron Lantern

A lantern is primarily for decoration but is placed only where light is needed in a garden, such as this junction of the pathways. Early lanterns were metal with later ones carved from stone. The fire box is where the lantern is lit. To the right of the lantern, in the water, is a stone representing a baby tortoise coming out of the water to its mother on the island. As you continue on, you will pass a Weeping Peach Tree, brought to the garden from Japan by Dr. Kawana.

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5. Lake and the Islands

A lake is an expression of the sea. In the sea are islands which are planted with Japanese black pines symbolic of mythological islands of immortality. One day, one of the Emperor's Shoguns sent a ship out to search for the mythical islands, but each time the ship approached them they disappeared in a fog bank. The islands were supported by 11 giant tortoises, and it is said that one day a giant stole some tortoises allowing two of the islands to drift away from the others and leaving the remaining three, which are represented by the three stones in our dry garden.

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6. Log Bridge

There are three kinds of bridges in the garden: fording bridges such as this one; a transition bridge, and a viewing bridge. Notice the four foundation stones plus a fifth stone to give the odd number. In ancient Japan the bridge would actually rest on these foundation stones; here they are symbolic. If this bridge poses a problem to cross, an alternate route is to turn left...go along the reflection pool...cross back into the garden over the bridge near the Ginkgo trees...turn back and go to the wooden plank bridge where you can proceed to the Snow Viewing Lantern or the Kasuga Lantern.

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7. Kasuga Lantern

This is an example of lanterns found at the Kasuga Shrine located in Nara Deer Park, Japan, about 40 miles east of Kyoto. Founded in 768, it is where over a thousand graceful deer, regarded as divine messengers, peacefully roam. More than 1,800 stone and wood lanterns line the pathways leading up to the shrine, and more than 1,200 copper and bronze lanterns hang from the eaves of the shrine itself. The Japanese people come on festival days and try to keep all of the lanterns lit by candlelight well into the night as a memorial to the dead.

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8. Snow Viewing Lantern YukimiDoro

This type of lantern was Dr. Kawana's favorite. The large top on it is to collect snow. It is something beautiful to look at during all four seasons of the year. The Japanese call snowflakes SeEka the snow flowers of winter, the snowflakes being the flower petals on the trees and shrubbery. This lantern was a gift from our Sister City of Nagoya to the City of Los Angeles and was dedicated on May 14, 1994.

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