Rocks raked into precise design in this much-photographed Zen Garden at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, CA inspire a tranquil and contemplative state of mind for the unhurried visitor...

Plants, water, and statuary arrangements are patterned after the Japanese art of flower arranging, the process of ikebana. Subtle variations of light, shade and view are gently revealed as visitors proceed through the garden to reach abrupt and total enlightenment. Spiritual purity and freedom from worldly concerns help to cultivate the Zen landscape that sets the stage for the ultimate adventure into the paradise of nirvana.

Formed by a courtyard at the top of a staircase, this Zen garden serves as an idyllic hideaway for visitors with a profound sensitivity toward nature; on its right lies the pictured flowing stream of sand and rocks, while to the left a small garden represents a forest. Beyond the Zen garden stretches a smaller courtyard that contains a collection of dwarfed trees and bonsai plants. The path from the bonsai court winds downhill among plants-- featuring Cleyera japonica, a Tea Family evergreen; Cryptomeria japonica, Japanese cedars; and groves of native Chinese bamboo-- within a woodland setting.