Anderson Japanese Gardens.  Rockford, Illinois

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A healing garden
A healing garden

Nature by itself has a way of replenishing us.  When a landscape is specifically designed as a healing space, that is something special.  That is exactly what happens here.  During my visit, I left agendas and maps behind and let the garden path guide me; one scene led to another.  As I moved deeper into the space...

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Invitation to a garden
Invitation to a garden

There is nothing like a good garden gate to welcome us into an outdoor space. Garden gates tell us where to enter the landscape – mark the separation between the outer and inner worlds of the garden - and provide a sort of invitation.  Here are a few of my favorite.  What's your favorite garden gate?

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Tales of Ise
Tales of Ise

I am often struck by the connection between gardens and art.  Nature and gardens have always inspired poets and painters.  And works of art, in turn, inspire designers to re-create scenes in 3 dimensions. This zig-zag bridge and irises were inspired by the 900 CE poem called The Tales of Ise....

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One of the top Japanese style gardens in North America.  The intention of Anderson Japanese Gardens: to “inspire the mind and energize the soul.”  An extended trip to Japan as a young adult left patron John Anderson impressed by the power of Japanese gardens to make us feel better.  Inspired by the Portland Japanese Garden in Oregon Anderson decided to transform his wooded, swampy Illinois backyard into a Japanese-inspired garden in 1978.  To do this he turned to award-winning garden designer Hoichi Karisu, famous for creating restorative gardens. Over time the garden has expanded to over 12 acres. 

 
 
Anderson Japanese Garden Site