This is the section of the new garden that house the Zen garden.
On Sunday I spent some more time working on my Japanese themed project. In the past, most of the time, I’ve created Zen gardens on a larger scale. Also, I started blending in my ideas about an Asian style café and bamboo forest into the garden itself. The landscapes were serene and inviting but no matter how I labored I never felt that I achieved my vision.
A Vision of Perfection
Of all the Japanese gardens my human has actually visited in real life, the Huntington Japanese Garden in Pasadena, California is by far the most beautiful. I haven’t been there in years, but it had every element I adore about Japanese gardens. Perhaps it’s teahouse isn’t quite the style I prefer but it is a real joy. If I could build something that captures that sense of place, like the Huntington, I believe I finally just sit back and enjoy my work. Btw, regardless of all other considerations, the work itself is a joy.
My Own Limits
One thing that limits my ability to achieve my landscaping goals is, even the very best trees, plants, flowers, grasses, fences and other Zen garden elements are still evolving, still improving. Some elements that once thrilled me are passé by today’s standards. In the past, I resorted to building some of my own objects, but with the advent of Mesh I’m realizing I don’t have the skills to match the works of the great Second Life artisans.
This was one of the first and most active of
Yordie’s Harvest Moon Cafés.
On the other hand, as more and more Mesh items become available I’m finding more and more inspiration to build the Japanese garden of my dreams. And a home for the new Harvest Moon Café too.
Progress Going Well
I’m still not finished with any of the main sections of the landscape, but I like to create little details wherever I can. Below is the gardener’s shack and the cart used to bring in food & beverage for the café, as well as plants and nutrients for the garden.
This is just a photo of the gardener’s shack,
tucked out of sight behind the new café.
At some point I hope the work will be more or less complete, or I’ll just run out of ways to scrounge up prims. The region came with a mountain range and waterfall, and when finished I’ll have added three additional features: the new Harvest Moon Café, a Zen garden and bamboo forest. When that happens I’ll open the garden for guests, but for now it remains private.
There are more images of the gardens progress on my Flickr Photostream and be sure to checkout the Flickr photo group for Huntington Japanese Garden.
Being Yordie Sands 
I read a book a long time ago. The only vision I carry of it is a bench in a covered area in Japanese style…The day is foggy and a light rain is dripping. A path runs by the bench area and the rest of the landscape is misted in fog. I have the sense it was a garden. I truly wish I could remember the book I received this idea from. But alas…to many years are gone and the image is all I have. I would love to see it in a painting but my efforts to recreate the thought are in vain. Love your work
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omg Yordie, the Huntington garden is so gorgeous! My next visit to California I’m definitely putting this on my must do list:) That’s a gorgeous model – I can’t wait to see your version. 🙂
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A visit to the Huntington is a wonderful experience. There are many other gardens on the estate, including a Chinese garden.
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It looks peaceful and gorgeous and you know I’ll want to visit when it’s open to the public.
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Glad to see you’re back in SL Yordie, and I love the work you’ve don on your Japanese Garden. Japanese Gardens are really unique and special places. I live near one in Kew Botanical Gardens here in south-west London, UK. Its very serene, but visiting a virtual Japanese garden can be just as relaxing I find. Looking forward to seeing it when it opens to the “public”.
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Ah! You are very lucky to live near one. I think there’s something universal that people of all nationalities recognize in the Japanese garden. The only ones I’ve seen are all in the USA but I’ve seen enough photos and done enough study to know when a garden is the genuine article.
I’m not planning to open the latest garden to the public but will those who are interested to a viewing and perhaps a geisha show I’ll perform in the new Harvest Moon Café. I’m thinking once a month, but that’s a ways away. I’ll keep you informed.
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