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Japanese Garden 2010
Fort Worth, Texas

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As always this wonderful Japanese garden section of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden is one of my favorites.

Stairway Azalea Azalea

Traipsing up and down this garden is again just a lovely, peaceful, serine place to relax and enjoy a warm spring day.

Bridge Bridge

While very similar in appearance I think these are really two separate bridges rather than views from different angles. The garden has multiple pools although looking at one it is not obvious that there are others linked by small passages.

Turtles Turtles Golden koi

As with any southern pond on a nice day the red eared sliders were out sunning themselves. Again no Japanese garden would be really complete without the koi. We did not see "Charlie" the black snake on this visit so we are not sure he or a relative are still around.

Japanese maple Ladies in red and purple Japanese maple

Here sandwiched between Japanese maples are a group from the Red Hat Society out for a tour of the garden.

Waterfall Butterfly Tea house

And finally a lightning tour from the waterfall near the entrance to the tea house at the far end with a lovely monarch in between.


Japanese Garden 2009
Fort Worth, Texas

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Again while officially part of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden the Japanese Garden has a separate entrance and admission charge so I put it on this page rather than trying to jam everything into one place.

Bridge Pond Lori with Koi
Pond Sand Garden

One of the wonderful things about Japanese gardens is that they remain the same while constantly changing. Most of that is perspective as every time I visit I see different things from a different angle and of course the seasons change the plants. Click here to jump over to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden page.


Japanese Garden 2008
Fort Worth, Texas

Jump to: top 2010 2009 2008 end

While officially part of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden the Japanese Garden has a separate entrance and admission charge so I put it on this page rather than trying to jam everything into one place.

Prayer Tower Prayer Tower Garden entry

Fort Worth is the standard I use to evaluate the Japanese Gardens we visit. Completed in 1973 in what I understand was an abandon and overgrown quarry pit, the garden at this point had 35 years to mature and develop the ageless appearance. They have also done an excellent job of blending the garden into the landscape so each step opens a new vista with a fresh point of view.

Main Pond Main Pond Main Pond
Main Pond

Typical of the garden is the main pond with the waterfall at the far end and how it is easy to change the view with just a few steps. I could easily spend hours and take hundreds of photographs in this one area alone and still have each one distinctly different.

Bridge Walkway to Bridge




Turning slightly the pathway leads down to the lower pond and the traditional bridge shown here in the background. Interestingly the bridge here is not the flamboyant red clashing with the green but a natural weathered wood that blends into the overall landscape.

Red Flowering Bush Under a Tree Charlie the Rat Snake Duck and Ducklings

Following the path around the pond you can temporarily lose sight of the bridge behind these bushes. Look sharp and Charlie may be basking in the sun waiting for lunch. He even let Lori pet him. Getting back close to the water and the ducklings are basking in the sun.

Waterfall Rock Waterway Sand Garden Azaleas

While I may have been focusing on water features there are several dry areas like this raked sand with the strategically placed rocks. Many of the banks are covered with greenery or flowering bushes like these Azaleas.

I could go on and on and on but I'll stop now and come back to this wonderful garden in another year. Click here to jump over to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden page.


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