JAPANESE GARDENS.

This is my entry for Tuesdays Landscape Photography contest by @juliank

One of the first things I noticed when walking into the picturesque Japanese Gardens in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia was the peace and serenity of the place. It is situated on four and a half hectares north of the university and is Australia’s largest and most traditionally designed Japanese garden.

The well planned and beautifully presented gardens are maintained and developed by The University of Southern Queensland. The combination of beautifully manicured lawns with shrubs, trees, rockeries and water features provide a seamless and appealing landscape.

The university and the Toowoomba Regional council share ownership of the gardens which showcase mountain streams and waterfalls, a dry garden, central lake, azaleas galore and three kilometres of paths. It also contains 230 species of both Australian and Japanese native trees and plants.

The parks Japanese name is “Ju Raku En,” which means, “Enjoying Peace and Longevity in a Public Place. It is estimated that over 100,000 visitors enjoy coming to these award winning gardens.

Children enjoy feeding the fish, artists set up their easels ready to recreate the lovely scenery and ducks, swans, and geese wander the property with a blatant sense of ownership. Ibis birds roost in the mangrove trees and bees flock to the scent and pollen of the lilac and peach blossoms in spring.

Japanese maples create a riot of colour in the autumn and the pergolas provide the perfect backdrop for weddings and special occasions.