Nadine Brown

Throughout the years, different trees have been crossbred to introduce new colours and species. you learn that the trees have a deep meaning to the Japanese people. The fleeting, brief blossoming of the flowers each year represents new beginnings and the transience of everything in life as nature progresses, ever-changing and evolving.

As you walk along the petal-covered cobblestones, the faint sound of music echoes in the distance. It's a reflective song played on the shamisen, a traditional three-stringed instrument. You stop to listen, closing your eyes, being fully aware of your breath, letting the melody envelop your mind, body and soul.

As you walk along the petal-covered cobblestones, the faint sound of music echoes in the distance. It's a reflective song played on the shamisen, a traditional three-stringed instrument. You stop to listen, closing your eyes, being fully aware of your breath, letting the melody envelop your mind, body and soul.

As you walk along the petal-covered cobblestones, the faint sound of music echoes in the distance. It's a reflective song played on the shamisen, a traditional three-stringed instrument. You stop to listen, closing your eyes, being fully aware of your breath, letting the melody envelop your mind, body and soul.

Opening your eyes again, you find the music leading you along a stone pathway to a small temple. It doesn't look much from the outside, but the rooftop makes you smile. It's wide-brimmed and looks a bit like a hat, the ones you see people wearing on riverboats and in fields to protect their heads from the sun. Two large stone lanterns stand at either side of the entrance.

Opening your eyes again, you find the music leading you along a stone pathway to a small temple. It doesn't look much from the outside, but the rooftop makes you smile. It's wide-brimmed and looks a bit like a hat, the ones you see people wearing on riverboats and in fields to protect their heads from the sun. Two large stone lanterns stand at either side of the entrance.

Opening your eyes again, you find the music leading you along a stone pathway to a small temple. It doesn't look much from the outside, but the rooftop makes you smile. It's wide-brimmed and looks a bit like a hat, the ones you see people wearing on riverboats and in fields to protect their heads from the sun. Two large stone lanterns stand at either side of the entrance.

Instead of entering the temple, you take the winding pathway to the enchanting gardens at the rear. The trees are varying shades of green with a smattering of pink blossoms. A koi fish pond flows through the center. The water in the pond is crystal clear, and as you peer into it, you can just make out the shapes of the orange and white fish as they shimmy left and right beneath the surface.

Instead of entering the temple, you take the winding pathway to the enchanting gardens at the rear. The trees are varying shades of green with a smattering of pink blossoms. A koi fish pond flows through the center. The water in the pond is crystal clear, and as you peer into it, you can just make out the shapes of the orange and white fish as they shimmy left and right beneath the surface.

Instead of entering the temple, you take the winding pathway to the enchanting gardens at the rear. The trees are varying shades of green with a smattering of pink blossoms. A koi fish pond flows through the center. The water in the pond is crystal clear, and as you peer into it, you can just make out the shapes of the orange and white fish as they shimmy left and right beneath the surface.

Pretty lotus flowers bob up and down on top of the water. Every now and again, the breeze blows, moving them slightly out of position before drifting back to their natural place of origin. There's a small red wooden bridge nearby, ornamental in design but sturdy enough to cross. You step onto it, the wooden slats creaking beneath your feet

Pretty lotus flowers bob up and down on top of the water. Every now and again, the breeze blows, moving them slightly out of position before drifting back to their natural place of origin. There's a small red wooden bridge nearby, ornamental in design but sturdy enough to cross. You step onto it, the wooden slats creaking beneath your feet

Pretty lotus flowers bob up and down on top of the water. Every now and again, the breeze blows, moving them slightly out of position before drifting back to their natural place of origin. There's a small red wooden bridge nearby, ornamental in design but sturdy enough to cross. You step onto it, the wooden slats creaking beneath your feet

At the other side of the pond, behind a cluster of bushes, are several large stone statues in seated poses. There are also benches on which to sit. You see a rectangular zen garden to your right and walk towards it. The garden is sprinkled with small plants and several polished stones appear to balance precariously on top of one another in the middle.

At the other side of the pond, behind a cluster of bushes, are several large stone statues in seated poses. There are also benches on which to sit. You see a rectangular zen garden to your right and walk towards it. The garden is sprinkled with small plants and several polished stones appear to balance precariously on top of one another in the middle.

At the other side of the pond, behind a cluster of bushes, are several large stone statues in seated poses. There are also benches on which to sit. You see a rectangular zen garden to your right and walk towards it. The garden is sprinkled with small plants and several polished stones appear to balance precariously on top of one another in the middle.

You notice a small rake lying on the ground to the side. A sign informs you that raking a Zen garden is often used to put the minds of monks into a meditative state, as they find the action of moving the rake back and forth soothing and relaxing. The sign invites visitors to try their hand at raking too.

You notice a small rake lying on the ground to the side. A sign informs you that raking a Zen garden is often used to put the minds of monks into a meditative state, as they find the action of moving the rake back and forth soothing and relaxing. The sign invites visitors to try their hand at raking too.

You notice a small rake lying on the ground to the side. A sign informs you that raking a Zen garden is often used to put the minds of monks into a meditative state, as they find the action of moving the rake back and forth soothing and relaxing. The sign invites visitors to try their hand at raking too.

You pick the rake up and slowly begin to make patterns in the sand, feeling a gentle breeze on your face as you move the prongs. You maneuver it first in straight lines towards you, then make undulating sine wave creations in the other directions.