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| Inside the Chinese Scholar's Garden |
One of the gardens I visited on my recent stroll through
Hamilton Gardens was the Chinese Scholar’s Garden, touted as “an interpretation
of the 10th to 12th Century Sung Dynasty gardens which
were designed as natural worlds of imagination and surprise.”
These enclosed gardens were havens for relaxation,
meditation and the cultivation of the spirit, and were extensively used by
scholars of the day.
This particular garden is named the Garden of Retreat-in-Flowing-Happiness.
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| The formal entrance to the Garden |
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| The prettily named Spring Blossom Walk |
I love the paving pattern in Blossom Court, and the unusual
shaped entrance to the Gallery Walk.
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| Blossom Court |
The Gallery Walk was tunnel-like with heavy dappled shade,
and felt a little mysterious. The roof
was covered with flowering jasmine, with the paved walkway strewn with fallen
flowers, and the scent was almost overpowering.
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| A moon gate leading out of the jasmine-scented Gallery Walk |
The path now wound around the Moon And Lily Lake, leading
first over the Wisteria Bridge (covered with flowering wisteria) and across the
Island Of Whispering Birds, before crossing the Willow Bridge.
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| Wisteria Bridge and the stone Willow Bridge |
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| Stone table and seats on the Island Of Whispering Birds |
The walkway led up steps among tall bamboo whispering in the
wind, leading to the Celestial Turtle and the Golden Pavilion.
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| The Bamboo Walk |
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| The Celestial Turtle of Taihu Lake |
The Celestial Turtle of Taihu Lake was presented to Hamilton
in 1996 by the city of Wuxi in the People’s Republic of China, to mark ten
years of being a sister city. According
to legend, this immortal creature used to rescue people from natural disasters.
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| The Golden Pavilion |
After stopping at the Golden Pavilion to look back over the
garden, the path winds its way back down to the exit door. Among the shrubbery can be caught glimpses of
the nearby Waikato River.
It is a thoughtful place to visit, with its play of light
and shade, the twists and turns of the path, different styles of paving, and
the overall feeling of tranquility.
Margaret
What a wonderful place for a stroll. Zen moments in gardens. It looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty peaceful garden. Reminds me very much of a similar garden I visited when staying with my friend in Australia a few years ago now.
ReplyDeleteWow, lovely photo's, a beautiful place to visit. As I read this my hubby is shouting at our TV, yes it's England v All Blacks, hubby being Welsh just wants a great match. Tommorrow when Wales play it will be totally different.
ReplyDeleteI think our country just descended into mourning! England played a good strategic game and can enjoy their win, but I have no idea why our coach played such an apparently weak side during the first half of the match. We will be watching Wales v South Africa tomorrow night, and I will be thinking of your hubby!
DeleteIt looks like a beautiful garden for relaxing and peace.
ReplyDeleteGosh! Those pictures gave me a surprise. I live near Scarborough in England and one of our favourite places to visit is the beautiful Peasholm Park, which is based on the Willow Pattern plate design. It looks so similar! Google it and take a look. X
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful Park, Tracy. I can see why you enjoy it so much.
DeleteThe Chinese Scholars Garden seems so peaceful and relaxing. A wonderful spot to reflect on life.
ReplyDelete