Read the book Sakuteiki and you will quickly discover that a traditional Japanese garden is not merely a visually pleasing arrangement of ponds and plants – it is an exercise in philosophy that changes not only with each passing season, but also with each visit and visitor. While such a garden might not always provide the answer to a question one “poses to it,” if one strolls through it with an open mind and a calm spirit, it can help to provide clarity of understanding to many of the conundrums of life.

The following are some of the things I “discovered” about both gardens and human life while strolling recently through the Portland Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon.

The entrance is often rather grand.

One’s first impressions are often overwhelming; it is difficult to know which way to look first or upon what to focus.

Objects of interest are frequently discovered but not always able to be seen clearly.

However simply by continuing to follow the path, it is possible suddenly to discover something astonishingly beautiful.

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Location: Portland Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon

Equipment: Canon 40D camera body, Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens