Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden
You have probably heard of the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, but have you ever wondered how it came to be? This urban refuge is a Japanese-inspired oasis that features traditional flora and fauna. Read on to discover how it came to be. In addition to highlighting its aesthetics, the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden is a beautiful place to visit and experience. It is located at 990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225.
This 3.5-acre garden in Brooklyn combines ancient Japanese design with a modern stroll-garden. The garden is decorated with waterfalls and ponds, while cherry trees and maples provide seasonal color. A kettle pond formed from a depression during the last ice age is filled with hundreds of Japanese koi fish. According to tradition, the koi fish symbolize prosperity and wealth. Each variety of koi fish represents a different attribute of love and good fortune.
Today, the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden is the centerpiece of the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, and it’s one of the top attractions. Designed by Japanese-American landscape architect Takeo Shiota in 1914, the garden was one of the first Japanese gardens in an American public space. It was created at a cost of $13,000, a gift from Alfred T. White. The garden opened to the public in June 1915.
The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden is the oldest Japanese-style garden outside of Japan. It combines traditional hill-and-pond design with stroll-garden-style architecture. Its centerpiece is a pond surrounded by carefully placed rocks and artificial hills. The garden also includes a vermilion-colored wooden torii and Shinto shrine. The gardens are ideal for meditation and reflection.
There are many other places to visit in Brooklyn, NY. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden was founded in 1910 and is now municipally owned and privately operated. It was built near the Brooklyn Museum, and has since expanded into a horticultural, educational, and entertainment space. It has two formal gardens and a beautiful lawn. Its Native Flora Garden recreates natural lands, and is home to small mammals.
The garden’s central organizing feature is the pond, which has an island and a traditional “Torii” viewing gate. A torii is a gate that marks the entrance to a Shinto shrine, and serves as a barrier between the spiritual and physical worlds. The pond torii design was based on that of the Miyajima torii, a small island outside of Hiroshima. In addition to being one of Japan’s three most beautiful sights, the Miyajima torii is a symbol of peace and harmony.
Another popular attraction in Brooklyn is Prospect Park, a beautiful botanical park. The park’s inner waterway was constructed in 1859, when the city aqueduct was under construction. It is fed by rainwater collected within the park. This waterway begins at the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden and flows through the Bluebell Wood, Rock Garden, and Plant Family Collection. The brook then enters the forebay pond and pools in the Water Garden. learn more
