The PJG

Portland has the best Japanese garden i've yet to see in the states. Situated in the hills west of town, Portland did a simply great job of isolating the park in its urban setting. Esteban and i took an afternoon off and went to investigate.

We were fortunate to visit Portland during their peak leaf-peeping time. The weather was surprisingly good; temperatures were balmy, the clouds strangely burned off by midafternoon, and it rained only once during the entire conference period. On this day Portland's perpetual cloudiness gave a great diffuse light--perfect for foliage.

One thing that differentiated PJG from other gardens is their noncommercial photo policy. I've agreed not to market any of these pictures, and it's easy to see why they're so anal about this--it's nearly impossible to take a bad picture in the place. This says quite a bit about the Japanese aesthetic, and even more about how that spartan ideal of beauty has influenced contemporary photography.

Also in the Washington Park area: the International Rose Test Garden and the Hoyt Arboretum, among other venues.

For those in Chicagoland / Beloit, Rockford has a surprisingly good garden, even if it is a bit noisy--the Anderson Japanese Gardens.