Recently John and I had the opportunity to go to Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Del Rey Beach, located on the south east coast of Florida. It is a 200 acre park/garden which beautifully displays both traditional and modern aspects of Japanese gardens along with a museum culture center. The land was donated to Palm Beach County by George Morikami, a Japanese immigrant who along with several Japanese families came to Florida in 1904 to revolutionize farming in Florida. The land was donated to by Mr. Morikami to preserve the memory of the pioneering Yamato Colony. As we entered the gardens we were greeted by a wide expansive view of a serene lake quietly reflecting the boulders and trees along its edge. As we journeyed through the garden we gazed through a sculpture called the wisdom ring, crossed bridges and paths surrounded by manicured gardens, and past trees being shaped and formed with bamboo and jute ties. The garden is composed of 6 distinct gardens inspired by but not replicas of famous gardens in Japan. Each section was beautifully developed with many traditional Japanese benches and areas to pause and meditate. Peacefulness surrounded us as we walked past a bamboo forest that sang as the wind blew its melody through the branches. Farther on by the museum of a Japanese home, we were transfixed by the collection of Bonsai specimens that had been lovingly tended to for years. We were able to visualize the waves lapping the shores of Japan through the raked gravel and boulders of a Zen garden. It is amazing how through the use of gravel and boulders water can be seen even in its absence. As we were observing the graceful interaction of large Koi and turtles we couldn’t help but be amused at the large Blue Heron walking next to the waterfall on the opposite shore of the pond looking longingly at fish ½ his size! All in all it was a delightful time there. Wish we could have had more time to just enjoy the beauty of it all but Mother Nature was rushing us through with threats – and the following through of thunder showers. I know that as pond lovers we all wish to achieve that peace and serenity in our own back yards. A place where humans and God’s creation co-exist, and where the rat race stops and one can find his soul again. John and Bev Ohling
