Despite the rain -so much rain- I thought I should spend more time outside and made a visit to Portland’s Japanese Garden. I armed myself with a jacket I thought was waterproof and an umbrella. Once inside the garden my umbrella exploded into a cage of exposed wire, leaving me to dodge raindrops and hide under the turning leaves of Japanese maples.
The garden, actually made up of five gardens, is carved out of the hills above the city, it seems they did a lot of clearing of the native cedars to make room for the 5.5 acres, which is a feat in itself. The contrast between the maintained land and the natural environment is very apparent and makes the order of the grounds more impressive. All this was observable from under the dry eaves of the Pavilion.
Even though I was damp, it seemed like the ideal time to visit. It was mostly empty, probably because of the weather, though, there were a few brave souls with enviable umbrellas and cameras. More important than the lack of people, which is very important to me, was the garden itself. At this time of year the leaves on the trees were starting to change, ranging from a washed out yellow to a brilliant orange. It was really spectacular, the vibrant colors reminded me of a Dr. Seuss book. The meandering paths and trickling water found in the natural garden were my favorite and inspired a sense of peace, so the garden delivered on the brochure’s promise.
Portland continually surprises me with its green spaces. Even in a semi-bustling city it’s very easy to find a beautiful place to be alone, maybe rain and a mangled umbrella help.