| Have you ever seen a Japanese Garden before? | | | | time to visit his home. I was fascinated when |
| The first thing that would probably come into | | | | I saw his miniature Japanese Garden. I have |
| your mind when you hear about these gardens | | | | never seen anything like it before. His |
| are bonsai trees. This Japanese art of making | | | | garden was beautiful, neat, clean, and seemed |
| miniature trees has recently become popular. | | | | so delicate. I was hesitant to walk along the |
| You might also associate these gardens with | | | | stones because I felt that my footsteps would |
| the art of Zen. | | | | disturb the garden's tranquil atmosphere. |
| | | | |
| This type of garden is usually based on a Zen | | | | The professor must have noticed my |
| related theme and the tranquil atmosphere | | | | fascination because he stood beside me and |
| that it projects is supposed to help bring | | | | explained what his garden was all about. The |
| people into a meditative state. | | | | host told me that it was a Japanese Garden. |
| | | | He showed me all of his wonderful bonsai |
| My fascination with this type of garden | | | | specimens and patiently explained their |
| started when I came across the first Japanese | | | | unique features to me. He also showed me the |
| Garden I ever saw. My father works in a | | | | lovely Koi fish that were swimming in the |
| language school and one of his colleagues is | | | | pond in his garden. He explained to me that |
| a Japanese professor. This professor had | | | | although these fish are endemic to China, the |
| lived for several years in Japan and in that | | | | Japanese use them to add the element of |
| time he has mastered the language and has | | | | prosperity to their gardens. |
| adopted much of the Japanese culture. One of | | | | |
| the elements of Japanese culture he likes and | | | | That experience transformed me into an |
| continues to practice was the art of | | | | instant Japanese Garden admirer. I was in |
| maintaining a Japanese Garden. | | | | total awe of this oriental garden's beauty, |
| | | | simplicity, and tranquility. After that |
| He invited us and all his other colleagues | | | | party, I began to research about this type of |
| and their families to a party to celebrate | | | | garden and today I have manged to create my |
| the birth of his third son. It was my first | | | | own Japanese Garden. |