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AnonymousI had an amazing learning experience at the Huntington Library! I never had any idea gardens went beyond the boundaries of simply plant arrangement and the general realm of art and design. The Japanese-style garden was a pleasure to return to, and were it not for the tour I may have spent some time reflecting by the water watching the koi swim about. The Garden of Flowing Fragrance on the other hand was enirely new to me, and to be given a detailed explanation of how to appreciate it prior to exhibiting it was hugely beneficial. Sure, I could've gone in and done a cold read, but to be instructed on the various particulars to focus on was very helpful for me to better understand the workmanship as well as the history such a garden alludes to. One of my favorite features was the "waveless boat" docked by the central lake, and how it spoke of the owner's wish to ever be moored at home when he returns from an actual trip. As another person put it, it could also be a "man cave" where the guy went to work on his poetry, art, or to simply chill. Because of this trip I'm currently thinking of building a waveless boat in my yard...yargh! I'm also thinking of installing a little corner with an Asian-style garden for my students to go and decompress in.
AnonymousThe Huntington Library and Gardens are just a few short miles from my home in East Pasadena and I was so excited to learn more about this magical place I have had occasion to visit regularly since my first visit in 1989. The idea of Japanesque gardens as a means of providing the elite a sense of heightened class in the late 1800s was quite fascinating. I had never thought about the political and social implications of a garden and I learned so much from Professors Kendall Brown and Duncan Campbell. I would love to bring my students back to the Huntington, the last field trip my school had taken there was more than five years ago. The idea that a Chinese garden was not complete until it had been documented in a poem gave me some ideas of how to inspire my AP Literature students-- shake off the cobwebs in their brains and take a fresh approach to the examination of literary expression.
edited by niruparmar on 10/18/2015
AnonymousSo I had a wonderful day at the library and I had not been there since the Chinese garden had been installed. I had seen the bonsai and dry garden before. As usual, I think " Why haven't I been coming here every week?".... Ken Brown and Duncan were amazing and I will definitely visit Yamashiro restaurant and The San Gabriel nursery. I loved the stone work and learning the history..The SURPRISING FIND...On Sunday I was stopped at a train crossing telling my mom about the library trip and I see this nursery that is by the crossing which I see nearly every day closed...It was OPEN!!?? So I told my mom..what is up with his place..We have never in decades seen it open. We saw a man come out..still the train is stoppped...and I ask him what is up with this nursery... Guess what??? It is a JAPANESE nursery by a very famous BONSAI teacher and it is only open by appt only. He told me to go online and look. NK nursery in Industry...Here is his bio..
Kaz “Yokou” Kitajima
He is Ikky Shihan Riji of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana. His dynamic arrangements use elemnts of bamboo, pine and wood materials as well as the most delicate flowers.
He began studying Sogetsu Ikebana under Seiyo Sato in Tokyo at age 18, graduated from Meisei University of Engineering and received his first teaching diploma from Sogetsu at age 22. He then entered the employment of Musahiho Landscape Company, where he mastered the art of Japanese Landscape and subsequently received a degree for Landscape Design from the Japanese Government.
At age 26 he came to the United States and became a member of Ikebana International. He was director of Sogetsu, Los Angeles Branch from 1991 to 1995 and of Nanka Ikebana Kyojukai teacher’s guild from 1997 to 1999. In 2005 he received the Japan Agriculture Society Agricultural Achievement Award, and in 2007 the Sogetsu Ikebana Overseas Award.
At present he is the proprietor of N.K. Nursery, a nursery for Japanese Gardens, specializing in Japanese Black Pine, in the City of Industry, CA and teaches Ikebana at the San Gabriel Japanese Community Center and the Pasadena Japanese Community Center.
His activities have included stage arrangements at
He has given other demonstrations and arrangements at
So I am going to set up a time to visit.....
AnonymousI thought that many of the things Kendall Brown presented during his lecture at the Huntington Gardens was really informative about the history of Japanese Gardens in the U.S. particularly in California. I liked that he tied the history of Japanese-U.S. relations to the gardens to the popularity of the gardens starting in the late 1800’s. What I took away from his lecture was a timeline:
late 1800’s: gardens and plants from Japan were new, foreign, could be purchased in catalogs, and were shown at world fairs. Japanese gardens in California were seen as a status symbol.
early 1900’s: gardens and plants being imported were questioned as was immigration at the time. Also this was a time of early Japanese aggression in Korea, Manchuria and later in China
1940’s Wartime: maybe gardens were seen as anti-American, many gardens were destroyed including the 5 acre garden in front of Hotel Coronado, some renamed as “Chinese Gardens”
Post War: 1960-70’s gardens became more modern, simplistic, appearance of zen gardens
Today: gardens are generally seen as an area of relaxation, wellness, and beauty
From the lecture by Duncan Campbell I took away more of a symbolic meaning of Chinese Gardens as opposed to a historical approach as many gardens were often destroyed from dynasty to dynasty in China. For example, Chinese gardens generally have 4 features: structure, stones, water, and plants. I felt that these features were very evident in the gardens at the Huntington. Also I liked that Duncan mentioned that the purpose of a Chinese Garden is the feelings and engagement someone has when in the garden using the senses of sight, smell, and hearing. In knowing that, I took a little time on my own to explore and really enjoyed it.
edited by skroop on 10/19/2015
Rob_Hugo@PortNWWhat a wonderful experience at the Huntington Library on Saturday! It was a one of a kind experience of learning the history of the Huntington's Japanese and Chinese style gardens. The lectures of Professors Kendall Brown and Duncan Campbell were phenomenal. So much knowledge shared by both experts in the gardens. I learned so much about the gardens. The tour of the gardens was also and amazing experience. I liked that the Chinese style garden has many structures so wonderfully adorn in Chinese carvings. The artistry of the structures are amazing. The Chinese style garden is not finished and is marvelous, I cannot imagine how much more beautiful it will be when it's completed. The Japanese style garden was so tranquil, it gave such a relaxed feeling to me personally. I like the bonsai part of the garden. I kept guessing which bonsai tree was the oldest, but in the end I gave up. It was impossible to guess when I am not an expert in bonsai. I love bonsai! The dry garden, to me was something I had never seen before, but I liked the simplicity and the complexity of it. Definitely returning on my own to really appreciate what the gardens have to offer without time constraints. I want to share this new experience with my students. I will try to take a field trip with my students so they can delight in the beauty and knowledge the Huntington has to offer. Money might be a big issue, but I will work hard to accomplish this goal. Thank you very much, Professor Dube, Brown, Campbell and Katherine for making this wonderful experience happen.
AnonymousBoth speakers for the Huntington Library session were a great pleasure. They were obviously specialists in their field with a great wealth of knowledge on the subjects. My interest in these beautiful gardens has peaked with the great descriptions given to us in the lectures. More than the information in the lecture was the ability to then walk out and experience the gardens first hand. I had never visited the gardens at the Huntington and felt incredibly lucky to have a personal tour from one of the curators of the Chinese gardens, what a fantastic way to first experience the gardens! I was surprised to learn that when the garden is complete it will be not only the biggest Chinese garden in the United States but also the biggest Chinese garden in the world. The garden is spectacular with every little detail created to be as authentic as possible. The layout of the garden itself is made to have views from every corner of the garden and meant to include the key features of the gardens. The Japanese garden at the Huntington was equally impressive. The garden has a vast collection of bonsai trees and perfect lawns to rest and enjoy the sounds of flowing water.
If you haven't visited the gardens, I highly recommend it.