Attending California State University back in the 1980’s I happened upon this little oasis on campus. Back in those days, it was outlying, feeling like a forgotten part of campus. There was no pyramid, no parking structure, no dorms. Being over 30 years ago, can hardly remember the first time finding this hidden gem and how I happened upon it, but it has always stayed in my memory and calls me back from time to time. So,on a beautiful sunny morning I had some errands to run for the costuming side of my life and decided to take a little detour for a dose of beauty and serenity.
Entering the traditional enclosed garden through a covered archway you are greeted by a pair of fu dogs welcoming you to spend a little time to unwind in their garden. Being a fan of the traditional fluffy dancing dogs (Chinese Lion Dancers), I picture these little guys jumping up to say high and give a little bow.
A few steps in you are transported in to a — picturesque— encompassing landscape of the tress and the pond. The serenity of the garden washes over you and you can feel the stress melting away. Glad to see students slowly roving around the grounds, sitting and studying or clumped over the lake feeding the koi- which were also happy to see the students!
There is a circular winding path that veers off to the right and left around the large koi pond. I choose the left side and first sight is the lovely bright pink Japanese Camellia trees in full bloom. Yummy smell and brilliant color catches your eye. A few steps further along you reach the wooden zig zag bridge which is a nice platform for observing the dazzling and delightful koi. There are koi of all colorings here with reddish orange, black and white, yellow, etc. My favorite are the Kohaku: translated from Japanese as red and white. They are a white-scaled koi with large red markings. In the large pond, there are numerous beautiful fish with all colors and different patterns. I love how the scales shimmer in the sunlight and contrast with the underlying rocks of the pond. Not certain if it is due to being a Pisces, but I have an affinity with koi fish. I even have a koi fish tattoo. This pair was circling around the platform. Certain they were not popping by to say hi, but looking for food.
Continuing along the path you reach a rock garden. In Japanese they are called karesansui gardens, which translates to dry landscape. This patch of small rocks is preciously raked in a repeating half circle pattern. I used to own a mini Zen (as it was marketed) garden with a wooden platform, sand, small rock and a cute, tiny rake. It was more of a mess than a meditative accessory. I can appreciate the precise attention needed to keep the rock garden pristine, but at this point in my life, it is the least interesting portion of the garden.
Resuming my stroll down the path is a small rustic looking bamboo fountain. The gentle sound of flowing water create a peaceful and serene atmosphere until the clacking happens as the bamboo tips over and spills out. Online has a few Japanese names for this contraption, but the most common is Shishi Odoshi (which, according to Wiki translates to deer frightening) and was used to ward off animals that might eat your garden. When I attended University here, the animal on campus was cats. Wonder if the cats still wander about. Every institution I have spent time at, there has been an animal, CSULB was cats, Long Beach City College had an abundance of rabbits and both Cal State Fullerton and UCLA had squirrels. The former having an army of them that would stand at attention along the planters waiting for food and the later having sneaky bastards that would steal food. I had a squirrel once stole my bagel. The damn thing came up and took the whole bag and ran off with his haul! I digress. Am hoping if the cats wander into the garden in the late evening hours, the ShiShi Odoshi will warn them to scamper off and to not bother (or eat) the fish.
Up a stone path to the left is the tea house and garden. The tea house is a very small structure that seems to house rotating exhibits. The current exhibit was about Hina Matsuri, which is a yearly celebration held in March. Called Dolls Day, or Girls Day and according to the information posted, celebrates the happiness, growth and good health of girls. In my travels, I have seen Hina dolls, but didn’t realize they were associated with a specific holiday. There is a hierarchy of dolls displayed on tiered shelving covered in a red cloth. Am drawn to the third tier with 5 musicians ( the gonin bayashi), maybe it is their short bob haircut that calls out to me, but I like the gals on the right with their black clothing. The red trim on the full, wide sleeves contrasts to the delicate white ceramic hands. Am also liking the exaggerated shoulder with the sleeve sneaking out from underneath gives me ideas about jacket or shirt designs. It was nice to stumble on this extra tidbit while wandering the garden.
Continuing along the path, you cross over a small curved bridge. Look to your left and you will see sweet small waterfall that feeds the pond flowing out under the curved bridge. I have always loved the sound of water cascading and stop on the bridge to listen for a bit. When I entered the garden it was a nice sunny day, but turning to look at the stream, the sky is starting to look ominous and stormy. Decided I better move along a bit quicker. Venturing on you emerge from the tree lined path to an opening showcasing the beauty of the entire garden.
Exiting back through the traditional archway, to the right are some bonsai trees (there are also a few larger trees on display in the garden, to the left, before exiting). Bonsai refers to container or tray planting. According to Encyclopedia Britannica’s website, the practice started in China over 1,000 years ago, but I have always associated it as a Japanese tradition. The trees are meticulously pruned to create unique open branches on a hearty stem. The container in which they are grown is also important, as it needs to compliment the size and coloring of the tree. Love to look at them, but seeing how often I kill plants, this is not a hobby for me.
As a storm seems to be brewing, alas, it is time to leave. I am feeling refreshed, having left the hustle and bustle of the world behind for a few minutes. It is indeed a peaceful and tranquil place full of little hidden treasures and tons of beauty. As I cross the street to the carpark, the drops start to fall and am grateful to hop into my car and be out of the rain. As the temperature suddenly dropped, slush started to fall from the sky. Hail I suppose, but once it hit my windshield it was slush! California weather is always unpredictable, but this year has been especially fickle.
Here is the link to the website and the google loction link