The Garden's brochure states, "When his Excellency Nobuo Matsunaga, the former Ambassador of Japan to the United States, visited the Portland Japanese Garden he proclaimed it to be 'the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan'." The Garden was designed in 1963 on 12 acres overlooking Portland. It has eight separate garden styles that include streams, a wonderful waterfall, an authentic Tea House and a spectacular view of Mt. Hood (weather permitting). We were there several days ago and as the weather forecast predicted . . . it rained intermittently throughout our visit.
The main attraction of the Garden is a Japanese Maple commonly known as the Red Emperor. It is just barely starting to turn its famous crimson. The first image posted is a different variety of Japanese Maple commonly known as the Dancing Peacock. It always turns crimson first. There is no end to the photographic opportunities here, from details to intimate nooks. The gift shop is excellent with some nice teas and wonderful incense.
This is the Peacock Japanese Maple. Every year it is the first in the garden to turn that characteristic crimson color.
Tom prefers his cropped version.
This is the infamous Japanese Maple also known as a Emperor’s Maple. It turns crimson after the Peacock Maple. It is just beginning to show some orange that will turn crimson.
Dark rocks shimmer in the aftermath of the intermittent rain.
We ate lunch at the little restaurant on the right. They do tea right!!
One could spend days at the Garden just getting detail photographs.
