No Stroll in the Park
Madison Jaye LoFaso (Huntington High School)
As I climb the wide path I feel the small stones beneath my feet, and notice a large boulder to my
right. I hear birds. I see a pond in the distance. Okay, so I get it. This is nature. But upon entering the John
P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden, I couldn’t help but think of all the places I’d rather be on a Saturday
morning. Why my parents dragged me here I’ll never know. I know better though. Don’t make a big deal
out of it, and maybe I’ll get out of here before the day is over. So I suggest we take this path to the right.

Looks like a short cut. Before I can take another step, a tall quirky-looking man approaches us and
introduces himself as our guide. Really? We need a guide to walk through a park? I am corrected. This is
not a park. It’s a Japanese garden, and apparently everything here is placed deliberately to create a
“symbolic path to enlightenment.”
We begin our journey by walking through ornate bronze gates. Large Japanese maples dance in the
wind. Around them lie small Japanese painted ferns. Everywhere, as if surrounded, I hear the sounds of
running water and talkative birds. After the guide explains where these plants are usually found, we
continue on to a small footbridge that crosses a narrow stream, fed from a vast pond. The path takes many
twists and turns, and around each bend is something new and surprising. This tactic, called hide and reveal,
is a common part of Japanese gardens.

From our guide – his name is Marshall – I learn that earliest recorded mention of Japanese gardens
was nearly two thousand years ago! Apparently there are many different styles of Japanese gardens, and
each serves a unique purpose. Some are designed to promote religious meditation, while others are meant
as a simple escape from everyday life. There are Rock Gardens, which as the name implies, are made up
entirely of rocks of all sizes. Tea Gardens surround tea houses, with a long relaxing stroll leading to the
front door. Pond Gardens invite boaters to tour the garden from its central point in the Pond. Elements like
sand and statues are commonly used.

According to the brochure in my hand, the John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden was built in 1960,
after Ambassador Humes and his wife returned from Kyoto, Japan. This garden is four acres large and
features a small tea house, bamboo groves, a wisteria arbor, a display hut for bonsai and ikebana plants, and
a cascading waterfall. I pass a large tree and as the path takes a sharp turn, I suddenly hear music, which
pulls my attention from the brochure.

There before me is revealed a magnificent waterfall and lush pond. As I approach the pond I see
dozens of colorful koi fish. My attention turns to one that is jet black and darts around the others, stealing
their food. I later learn that his nickname is Hoover, like the vacuum cleaner! The air around me is crisp
and clean, and the notes of a shakuhachi flute can be heard from the Tea House. As I look to my left, I see
our tour guide beginning to meditate. I am truly intrigued and I ask if we can join him. So we sit on the
grass and quietly listen to all the sounds around us.

I unexpectedly hear a buzzing sound which pulls me back to reality. It’s my phone. As I dismiss the
call, I realize that I have been strolling this garden for over two hours…and I hadn’t checked my phone
once! We make our way back to the entrance and Marshall wishes us all a good day. My parents and I
quietly make our way back to the car. I think back on the day and I am captivated by the designer’s careful
attention to every detail. I am particularly amazed by the bonsai trees, which are miniature versions of large
trees found in nature. Such care and love is required to create them.

On the drive home it hits me; a feeling of regret for my behavior toward my parents at the start of the
day. What if they relented and let me stay home? I would never have learned that aspects of the Japanese
culture could have such an emotional affect on me. I only hope that someday I can travel to Japan and visit
some authentic Japanese gardens.

Bibliography "Japanese Garden." Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation, 11 2012. Web. 5 Dec 2012.

65