Here are just a few more photos left over from my post yesterday on the Huntington’s recently-opened Chinese Garden.
I mentioned how there were many layers to the spaces there. The following are some of the doors and windows in the garden that help to frame the views and contribute to the sense of layering.
Leaf-shaped window near the Studio of Pure Scents.
Stacked portals of the Terrace of the Jade Mirror.
These last two windows in the outside wall, the Wall of the Colorful Clouds, are interesting in that they’re not perfect squares. The top, left and right sides form part of a square, but their bottom sides parallel the contours of rolling ground where the wall is sited. Even though you’re looking at an element in the human-created hardscape, this technique acknowledges the earth where the wall stands.
Yet to come: posts on the Huntington’s Japanese Garden, Conservatory and Desert Garden.
Layers in a garden are super great. The peekholes are most interesting.
Hi James, so nice that you made time for a visit. I live 1.5 miles from the Huntington and go far too rarely! Your pictures remind me that this is a must-do for me and the family during the holiday – maybe even today. Thanks for you beautiful pictures and thoughtful comments. barbara
I’ve never thought about Chinese gardens before – very interesting. The views through the different layers remind me of = children’s puppet theaters, layers of scenery to give three D effect. Must be an early memory of mine I guess. Interesting detail about the shape of the windows.
You did a much better job of photographing some of the Chinese garden effects than I did when I went there last year (it had JUST opened, and a lot of bare dirt was in evidence, but unfortunately I can’t claim that as the problem with most of my photos).
Barbara, if I lived that near the Huntington, I would irritate groundskeepers trying to close the place by being found skulking, lost in time, in the succulents, roses, and bonsais. And those are just some of the ones I know to come back to now.
Tina, there’s lots of ideas to borrow from this garden, even if you’re not making a Chinese garden.
Barbara, funny how some of the closest things are some of the least visited. I hope you get a chance to visit there soon.
CM, all my talk about the layering was just a strong impression I had, and I’m not sure how much was intentional. Part of the idea is to make a garden vista like a scroll painting, which would be made of several elements. I’m sure some of the views were designed to incorporate vistas towards the mountains to the north.
Pomona, thank you! The late-afternoon winter light really helped the gardens have more character than they might in the springtime when the garden opened. I know what you mean about the grounds people having to chase you out of the gardens. I only had two hours to cover four gardens. Total access at all times of day without having to worry about the 4:30 closing time would have been pretty wonderful.