“ These gardens give us the hope and serenity that emanate from the beauty of the earth.” (Eleanor and Eugene Goldberg)
As I eagerly await our next road trip to California later this month, perhaps you’ve noticed that I’m spending more time investigating local tourist spots in my own home territory of South Florida. For in paraphrasing from the introduction to my blog home page, any place near or far will do if your senses are open to the peaceful energy that surrounds you. So I headed north on busy I-95 on Saturday morning last week, then veered west through swanky Boca Raton to spend an amazing two hours meandering around the sixteen acre environs of Morikami Gardens.
So what exactly made the timing of my visit to “Garden Of The Drops of Dew” as Morikami is commonly called so special? Know that upon arrival, I seemed to have “caught a break” as throngs of tourists at Morikami were rushing for cover to escape one of those typical South Florida rain showers that pass through during the approaching summer season. Yet I knew that these deluges did not usually last very long. Thus I felt free to conduct my self guided tour of Morikami’s unique landscape designs at a time when it’s paths were relatively clear of competing pedestrian traffic.
So I invite you to join with me amid the cooler aftermath of summer rain at Morikami in the photo set below. For I hope to recapture for you some highlights of this visit that best capture nature’s solitude there amid its flowering trees, shrubs, rocks ,and gravel in Japanese artistic tradition.
Pause at the Morikami front entrance and imagine a quiet oasis of natural beauty well buffered by surrounding forestland from populous surrounding cities.Before you enter the Morikami Visitor center, look around and take your first glance at Japanese precision in landscape design.Pick up a free Gardens map at the Visitor Center and plan your counterclockwise hike around a centralized pond in leisurely fashion.Be prepared to get rained on along today’s walk but plan to find spots along the way that can you duck under to seek cover.So let’s begin your tour at this stone lantern overlooking a quiet pond and settle into a dose of Buddhist spirituality.Cross over a simple wooden bridge and savor the brilliantly manicured gardens ahead that you will encounter today ahead on your loop route endeavor.As you walk through a series of several island gardens to the right of the lake, notice that colorful flower beds displayed in artful precision surround you. Now inhale the fresh smell of post rain dew.Sit down on a park bench to rest as needed as you gaze wondrously at stunning lakeside views.As you circle around the back portion of the central lake, notice the Japanese flair for using rock and gravel formations as a featured element in their landscape garden designs.Uh oh! It’s starting to lightning and thunder once again. You better duck under that covered pavilion ahead and listen closely to the inviting sights and sounds of rain in relative safety.With more rain approaching, you speed up your pace to the Visitor Center along the backstretch of your tour. So watch out for those large puddles and muddy tracks along the way.Now observe that a snowy egret and slender anhinga pose by the lake as a brief spell of sunshine has now returned.Just follow the gentle cascade of flowing water over these boulders to Morikami Falls for a pleasing end to your tour today.You’ve challenged yourself to complete an invigorating two mile hike today in the heat and humidity of South Florida summer. So you might feel the urge to remove your shoes and take a leisurely rest in this traditional Japanese tearoom.
Fascinating… 露地 (roji) meaning “dewy ground” refers to the garden path over which one passes through a Japanese “Tea Garden” (園 “en”) in order to reach the place where the Tea Ceremony is held. It alludes to some subtle Buddhist ideas from the “Lotus Sutra”.
Thank you for giving a treat to eyes. I loved the freshness. Also many wishes for preparing well for the upcoming trip. Glad you already sound excited 🙂
The Japanese are definitely known for orderly and well-manicured gardens. Even here in the Philippines, gardens administered by them have a calming quality in line with the Zen philosophy.
Snippets of a Traveling Mind 
Wonderful photos… Thanks for sharing!
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B\\\
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Fascinating… 露地 (roji) meaning “dewy ground” refers to the garden path over which one passes through a Japanese “Tea Garden” (園 “en”) in order to reach the place where the Tea Ceremony is held. It alludes to some subtle Buddhist ideas from the “Lotus Sutra”.
Thank you for sharing! ツ
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All I know is that it felt very peasceful at that spot.
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Thank you for giving a treat to eyes. I loved the freshness. Also many wishes for preparing well for the upcoming trip. Glad you already sound excited 🙂
Narayan x
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Actually we have four trips coming up for your reading pleasure.
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Woa. waiting for all of them 🙂
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Wow, what a wonderful place to walk around and take in all the greenery. Thanks for sharing and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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You wouldn’t want to walk around there in summer though. Too hot!
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You wouldn’t want to walk around there in July or Aug. – It’s too hot.
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The Japanese are definitely known for orderly and well-manicured gardens. Even here in the Philippines, gardens administered by them have a calming quality in line with the Zen philosophy.
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These gardens make me want to visit Japan and your country for sure.
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Wow!!! Thanks for sharing. It would’ve been a very beautiful experience..love the pictures and absolutely anyone would love to travel
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At Whitehall you’ve seen Florida tourism at it’s best.
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great photos & observations — many tx for sharing 🙂
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Thanks for commenting.
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