When I was a kid my parents would always make me go to gardens, and I hated it. Now that I’m older I’ve started going to gardens by myself, it must be some variant of Stockholm Syndrome. So I found myself at the Lan Su Chinese Garden which, according to the brochure, is the most authentic Chinese garden outside of China. I can’t verify that claim but this place is pretty cool. It’s a city block in the heart of downtown Portland. From over the walls you can see the office buildings and lofts that surround the garden, a fact that makes the seclusion of the grounds more fascinating.
I’m sure the plants are more spectacular when they’re blooming in the spring but it was peaceful in the dead of winter. And the garden has a lot to offer other than foliage, notably several buildings including a scholar’s study, tea house, pavilions, and water features. Every step you take on the crooked paths changes perspective and more of the intricate details become apparent. Each step is a lattice work of rocks placed together on their side and there are intricate wood carvings throughout the garden.
My favorite feature was the rock mountain and waterfall. These giant rocks are submerged in water for years so they erode in unique shapes then they’re placed in gardens. Having a quiet space like this in the heart of a city, where you forget the cars that are on the other side of a wall, is an impressive feat. Hopefully I’ll find more gardens to check out, now that I’m a garden person.